DICE 2024: Shaping the Future of Digital Trust

The Digital Identity unConference Europe (DICE) 2024 took place this June in Zürich, welcoming global experts to discuss not just secure digital identities but the creation of an integrated ecosystem of trust. Over three sunny days at Trust Square, attendees worked to connect digital trust to real-world economic advantages by focusing on authentic data, verifiable proofs, and practical applications that go beyond mere identification. This was made possible through the collaboration of Trust Square, DIDAS, and IIW, emphasizing the power of partnerships in advancing digital trust.

A New Direction for Swiss Digital Identity

Bundesrat Beat Jans, head of the Swiss Federal Office of Justice and the leading figure behind Switzerland’s e-ID project, opened the conference with updates on the nation’s progress. Switzerland is advancing its secure digital identity framework while maintaining technology-neutral principles, ensuring future adaptability.

The new e-ID law, under parliamentary review, defines the required trust infrastructure without mandating specific technologies, providing issuers with the flexibility to choose tailored solutions. This approach strengthens market responsiveness, protects investments, and ensures seamless integration with emerging innovations.

However, balancing security and accessibility remains a challenge. By limiting the initial rollout of the e-ID to a government-developed open-source wallet, Switzerland aims to provide robust security while ensuring transparency. Plans to engage with the OpenWallet Foundation and promote open hardware crypto processors reflect Switzerland’s commitment to digital sovereignty and international standardization.

Beyond Identity: Building a Trust Ecosystem

DICE 2024 highlighted that the economic value of digital trust lies in creating a broader ecosystem—not just digital identities. Verifiable credentials, authentic data, and secure proofs were discussed as enablers of trust in industries like healthcare, finance, and logistics.

By emphasizing data integrity, industries can streamline processes, reduce fraud, and build consumer trust. For example, verifiable credentials can authenticate professional qualifications or certifications in real-time, while trusted data channels improve supply chain transparency. DICE underscored the need for governance models to maintain consistency and reliability in such ecosystems, paving the way for more secure, efficient, and scalable solutions.

Economic Implications of Trust Ecosystems

The trust ecosystem proposed at DICE 2024 offers significant economic benefits:

• Fraud reduction: Improved verification lowers financial losses.
• Streamlined compliance: Simplified KYC and AML processes reduce administrative burdens.
• Efficiency gains: Accelerated verification boosts operational efficiency and customer experiences.
• Market expansion: Trust ecosystems create opportunities in sectors previously hindered by security concerns.
• Innovation stimulation: Open standards encourage the development of interoperable solutions.

By linking trust-building efforts to tangible economic outcomes, DICE 2024 shifted the conversation from abstract concepts to measurable benefits.

The DICE unConference Experience

The open and collaborative format allowed attendees to co-create the agenda, ensuring discussions addressed real-world challenges. Key topics included

• Interoperability: Cross-border and cross-platform systems to streamline international transactions.
• Zero-knowledge proofs: Privacy-preserving verification methods.
• Authentic data sharing: Applications in industries like healthcare and finance.
• User-centric solutions: Accessibility for all users, including those with older technology.
• Governance frameworks: Clear standards for public-private collaboration.

These discussions highlighted the importance of aligning technological innovation with user needs and industry-specific applications.

Looking Ahead: DICE 2025

To build on the momentum of 2024, DICE has announced two major events for 2025:

1. DICE Ecosystems | March 4-5, 2025
   Focus: Deploying verifiable credentials and authentic data across business ecosystems.
   • Collaborate with sector leaders.
   • Build partnerships for adoption strategies.
   • Develop cross-sector production use cases.

2. DICE 2025 | September 2-4, 2025
Focus: Advancing technologies and frameworks for digital identity and trust.

• • Deep dives into core technologies and governance.
  • Open Space format for agenda co-creation.
  • Exploration of privacy-preserving solutions and global standards.

Aligning Digital Trust with Economic Benefits

DICE 2024 clarified that digital identity and trust are not standalone constructs—they drive real economic advantages. By linking trust ecosystems to fraud reduction, compliance efficiency, and market expansion, the conference demonstrated how secure systems empower businesses and consumers alike.

The Path Forward

While the digital trust landscape evolves, collaboration and innovation remain vital. As DICE continues to shape the agenda, the focus will be on actionable strategies that enhance security, scalability, and inclusivity.

For more information and updates on upcoming events, visit the DICE official website. Let’s continue to collaborate and innovate to forge a digital future that benefits everyone.