In this episode of The Future of Identity Podcast, I’m joined by Robin Tombs, co-founder and CEO of Yoti, one of the earliest and most widely adopted reusable digital identity wallets globally. Robin shares the long journey behind Yoti – from early frustrations with knowledge-based identity checks to building a biometric, user-controlled identity app years before reusable identity became a mainstream concept.
Our conversation explores what it really takes to build a reusable identity network from the ground up. Robin reflects on the challenges of solving the cold start problem, navigating regulatory friction, and earning user trust, while steadily growing Yoti to over 23 million downloads across multiple markets. We also dig into how adoption is finally accelerating as governments, businesses, and users begin to align around the value of portable, privacy-preserving identity.
In this episode we explore:
- Why knowledge-based verification failed and how biometrics and document verification changed the game.
- The realities of the cold start problem in identity and why utility and acceptance must grow together.
- How regulation both slows and unlocks adoption, from right-to-work checks to age verification laws.
- The importance of trust frameworks and certification in helping relying parties confidently accept reusable identity.
- Why acceptance networks are critical to scaling identity ecosystems and ensuring wallets can be used everywhere they matter.
This episode is essential listening for anyone building or investing in digital identity. Robin offers a rare, candid look at what it takes to persist through a decade-long journey in identity and why the next phase of growth will be driven by interoperability, networks, and real-world utility.
Enjoy the episode, and don’t forget to share it with others who are passionate about the future of identity!
Learn more about Yoti.
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Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or find all ways to listen at trinsic.id/podcast.
