An Interview with Kabir Maiga and Zachary Klares about the NFID Foundation
What is the core idea behind NFID, and why is it significant?
By the end of 2025, it’s expected that around 80 million Europeans will have digital IDs based on new global standards, with identity wallets containing verifiable digital identities. In the U.S., 17 states are moving toward similar standards. This creates a substantial opportunity in the access control industry, where identity is foundational.
Currently, access control is account-based, using personal data to create accounts rather than verifiable identities. Equipping 80 million people equipped with verifiable digital credentials opens up endless possibilities. Users could prove their identity to service providers in various scenarios—whether checking into a hotel, interacting with a law enforcement officer, or verifying age at a bar.
NFID can enable remote management of access to both physical and digital spaces, ensuring accuracy and reliability in identity verification and access rights.
Why was the NFID Foundation established? Couldn’t this be just an open technology?
Interoperability is a key reason for the NFID Foundation’s existence. For decentralized ID to work across states, countries, and products, it must be universal. Companies within the foundation collaborate on standards, ensuring that the technology is interoperable and universally applicable. This joint development fosters industry-wide adoption.
Additionally, security requires a foundational layer of trust for systems to recognize and validate credentials. The NFID Foundation builds this trust ecosystem, offering a space for members to influence design and governance.
The foundation also serves an educational role, keeping the industry informed on new trends and standards. When a new standard is widely adopted, millions of users join almost immediately. Industry players unprepared for this shift would have a lot of ground to cover, and the NFID Foundation helps ensure everyone is ready.
Is NFID technology only relevant for use cases like physical access control?
While NFID is primarily focused on physical access control, its applications extend to the digital world. NFID aims to make identity verification easy not only online but also in embedded devices. Many existing standards focus on web-based implementations, neglecting devices with limited computational power, such as embedded systems. The NFID Foundation addresses this by creating standards that cater to both realms.
NFID standards describe how to use digital identity for physical access, and our contributions to the broader identity community support both physical and digital access needs. While the technical means of presenting an SSI-based credential differ between a door and a website, the core identity remains consistent.
Will NFID expand into the digital world?
NFID will naturally progress from physical to digital applications, like Digital ID. The technology could seamlessly grant access to digital realms—the metaverse, banking accounts, and more. While implementation may vary, it’s all about adapting to each context.
If we look back, physical access began with keys and cards. Today, we use phones to access both physical and digital systems. We are evolving toward a unique, universal ID for every global citizen.
