The SSI Orbit Podcast – Self-Sovereign Identity, Decentralization and Digital Trust

How does an industry of over 360 airlines build digital trust across borders, partners, and countless intermediaries? In this episode, Mathieu Glaude speaks with Gabriel Marquie, Digital Identity Lead at IATA, about how digital identity is transforming both airline operations and the passenger journey.Gabriel explains how airline distribution is shifting from legacy GDS systems to modern NDC APIs, why airlines need verifiable credentials to trust travel agencies and employees, and how digital passports, biometrics, and data minimization will enable seamless and contactless travel. He also shares IATA's roadmap, including new trust frameworks and the Contactless Travel Directory, as the industry moves from pilots to coordinated global rollout.This conversation offers a clear and practical look at the future of digital identity in aviation.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction: The identity challenge in aviation01:50 - IATA's role in airline distribution and trust networks07:44 - IATA Strategic Partnership Program and collaboration12:54 - Trust frameworks: Comparing IATA to payment networks like Visa18:23 - B2B Use Cases: Travel agency verification deep dive24:06 - Why airlines need to verify who's selling their seats30:48 - Northern Block partnership and Air Canada demo36:17 - B2C Use Cases: The complex passenger journey landscape43:37 - Digital passport standards and ICAO coordination50:34 - Apple and Google digital passport announcements57:54 - Biometrics, tap-and-go, and data minimization01:00:47 - Air travel doubling in 10-15 years01:02:04 - Roadmap: Contactless travel directory and next steps01:06:42 - Closing thoughts and call to action

How did Bhutan go from zero to 80% national digital identity adoption in just two years? In this episode of The SSI Orbit Podcast, host Mathieu Glaude welcomes back Pallavi Sharma, Lead of Marketing & Communications for Bhutan’s National Digital Identity (NDI) program, to unpack one of the world’s fastest and most successful digital identity deployments.Pallavi shares how Bhutan integrated banks, telcos, insurers, and government services into a unified trust ecosystem, removing friction for citizens and enabling secure, remote access to essential services. From self-attested biometrics to P2P chat, she explains the surprising features that drove massive user adoption, and why convenience, not privacy, became the real driver of trust.You’ll also hear how Bhutan is preparing for the next wave of digital innovation, including cross-border interoperability with India, support for blockchain networks like Polygon and Ethereum, and long-term plans for e-voting, land tokenization, health credentials, and CBDCs.In this episode:How Bhutan reached 80% adoption across a population of 770,000The role of regulators and public–private alignmentWhat citizens actually care about (hint: it’s not decentralization)eKYC breakthroughs: live-verified photos, signatures & remote onboardingWeb3 readiness, biometrics, and the future of digital public infrastructureTune in to learn what the rest of the world can take from Bhutan’s rapid digital identity transformation.

Can you trust what you see online, when AI can generate anything and anyone can cryptographically sign a lie?In this episode of The SSI Orbit Podcast, host Mathieu Glaude sits down with Scott Perry, Founder & CEO of the Digital Governance Institute, to explore why cryptography alone can’t solve misinformation, deepfakes, fraud, or content manipulation, and why digital trust now depends on governance, provenance, and verifiable accountability.Scott breaks down how the C2PA standard (a coalition of the world’s largest tech companies) is creating a global “nutrition label” for digital content, enabling us to know where a digital asset came from, who touched it, and whether it’s been altered. He also shares how creator assertions, certificate authorities, and rights management frameworks work together to build a multi-layer trust fabric for the next generation of the internet.Whether you’re working in digital identity, trust frameworks, AI systems, journalism, media, or enterprise risk, this episode provides a clear look into the future of trustworthy digital content.

Has the self-sovereign identity (SSI) movement strayed from its original values? Are we witnessing the centralization of digital identity under the guise of decentralization? In this compelling episode of The SSI Orbit Podcast, host Mathieu Glaude sits down with Christopher Allen, a pioneering figure in cryptography, decentralized identity, and internet security. Together, they unpack the troubling trends that suggest SSI ecosystems may be drifting away from foundational principles and towards models that ultimately serve governments and corporations rather than individuals.Christopher shares his deep industry experience, from co-authoring SSL/TLS, which secures the internet today, to leading the development of decentralized identity standards. He discusses how the early promises of user empowerment in digital identity have been eroded by the realities of commercialization, government control, and the re-centralization of power. He also reflects on lessons from history—how identity systems have been weaponized in past regimes—and warns of similar risks emerging in today’s digital landscape.If you care about privacy, autonomy, and the future of digital identity, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to hear a thought-provoking discussion on whether SSI is still on the right path or if it's time to course-correct before it’s too late.

Are you confident in the environmental and social claims about your products?   In this episode of The SSI Orbit Podcast, host Mathieu Glaude sits down with Steve Capell, Vice Chair of UN/CEFACT and Project Lead of the United Nations Transparency Protocol (UNTP), to explore how transparency and traceability are being revolutionized in global value chains. Together, they unpack the challenges of greenwashing, the urgency of compliance with new regulations, and the transformative potential of a global transparency protocol. Steve shares real-world examples, such as the impact of carbon border adjustments and digital product passports, highlighting how regulatory frameworks and technological innovation intersect. The conversation also addresses the role of decentralized identifiers and verifiable credentials in ensuring the integrity of sustainability claims. Key Insights: Greenwashing is widespread, with over 50% of product claims being misleading or false. The UNTP offers a standards-based approach to ensure transparency and interoperability in value chains. Verifiable credentials are essential for decentralized trust, linking data to trusted sources while ensuring integrity. Regulations like carbon border adjustments and product passports are reshaping trade by enforcing sustainability disclosures. The UN's role as a neutral body provides a trusted space for creating global standards and recommendations. Tune in to this episode to learn how the UNTP is driving a shift from marketing-led sustainability claims to evidence-backed transparency and why this transformation is critical for regulatory compliance and strategic business differentiation. Don't miss this deep dive into the future of transparent global trade!Chapters: 00:00 - Why is the UN pursuing the development of a new protocol to help solve transparency in sustainability disclosures? 09:17 - How to ensure the integrity of claims being made is the d efacto standard? 16:32 - How did the UNTP think through the proper technical and governance architecture to support all transparency use cases? 32:36 - What will become the catalyst for the mass uptake of the UNTP? 40:32 - What makes the UN a good home for the definition of a transparency protocol? 51:03 - Does all data that interacts with the UNTP need to be public? 58:40 - Is there an opportunity for registrars to create value using the UNTP? Resources UNTP Overview: A detailed introduction to the United Nations Transparency Protocol (UNTP). UN/CEFACT: Learn more about the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT).  The digital product passport and its technical implementation Green claims - European Commission - Environment: New criteria to stop companies from making misleading claims about environmental merits of their products and services. Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): EU regulation on carbon emissions and global trade.

What if there was a way to establish a new trust layer for the internet, enabling secure digital interactions and unlocking valuable transactions that are currently impossible? In this episode of The SSI Orbit Podcast, host Mathieu Glaude sits down with Darrell O'Donnell, Executive Director of the Global Acceptance Network (GAN), to explore this ambitious vision.The GAN aims to create a neutral, non-profit organization that governs digital public infrastructure for exchanging trusted information. Drawing inspiration from payment networks like Visa, GAN seeks to standardize conversations around digital credentials and identity across different ecosystems and industries globally.Some of the valuable topics discussed include: The problems GAN is trying to solve around digital trust How GAN compares to and complements existing digital identity efforts GAN's governance structure and business model The role of trust registries in enabling new types of digital interactionsTune in to learn how GAN could transform digital trust and enable new forms of secure, valuable transactions in our increasingly digital world.Chapters:00:00 - What is the Global Acceptance Network (GAN)08:35 - What value does GAN bring to whom?12:05 - Comparing GAN to VISA and SWIFT17:39 - Does GAN need to become a consumer brand?22:49 - Who are GAN Members? What type of relationship will they have with GAN?27:07 - How does GAN differ from and complement National Digital ID programs?36:16 - How is GAN managing its own internal governance?40:19 - What is GAN’s business model?46:27 - How do Trust Registries fit into GAN?53:29 - What is next for the GAN?

Are you struggling to design and implement decentralized digital trust ecosystems that actually work? In this episode of The SSI Orbit Podcast, host Mathieu Glaude sits down with Ecosystem Architect Antti Kettunen to unpack the challenges of adoption and value creation in decentralized systems.Antti shares his insights on moving beyond technology-focused conversations and instead building the right incentive models and business value propositions. He explains why simply selling decentralized identity as a technology solution is not enough—ecosystems need to be designed holistically with all stakeholders in mind.Some of the valuable topics discussed include: Contrasting value chains in centralized vs decentralized ecosystems The importance of coordinated governance in decentralized systems Strategies for Mapping out ecosystem value propositions Frameworks for analyzing incentives across different participantsWhether you're in the process of building a decentralized identity solution or embarking on a digital transformation journey for an existing ecosystem, this episode is a goldmine of practical insights. It offers essential guidance on how to create sustainable value for all parties involved. Tune in to gain actionable knowledge that will empower you to design decentralized ecosystems that drive adoption.Chapters:00:00 - Value chains for decentralized ecosystems08:27 - Are Wallets the new platforms?14:07 - Are Payments a key enabler for decentralized trust ecosystems25:25 - Will our identifiers ultimately be controlled by Apple/Google and Government wallets?31:27 - Frameworks to enable ecosystems for decentralized data exchanges44:17 - The need for public data layer within ecosystems to build trust and enable trusted interactions50:57 - Understanding ecosystem member incentives in order to increase success rate

Are you curious about how Germany is navigating the complex landscape of digital identity wallets and interoperability? In this episode of The SSI Orbit Podcast, host Mathieu Glaude sits down with guests Kristina Yasuda and Niels Klomp to explore Germany’s ambitious wallet strategy, the development of interoperability profiles, and the influence of big tech on digital identity.Kristina and Niels bring a wealth of knowledge and firsthand experience to the discussion, making this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of digital identity. They delve into Germany’s approach to creating a secure and user-friendly wallet infrastructure, the challenges of achieving interoperability across different systems, and how major technology companies are shaping the digital identity space.Get ready to uncover: The strategic objectives behind Germany’s wallet initiative Key considerations for developing and implementing interoperability profiles The role of big tech in driving innovation and potential risks Insights into the regulatory landscape and its impact on digital identity projectsJoin us for an engaging and informative conversation highlighting the complexities and opportunities within the digital identity ecosystem. Tune in to The SSI Orbit Podcast to stay ahead of the curve and gain valuable insights into the future of digital identity.Chapters: 00:00 - What wallet solutions are the German government funding, how it fits into eIDAS 2.0 11:58 - Governments x Wallets x Governance Frameworks 18:02 - Technical interop profiles from an adoption cycle lens, adoption being 27:08 - eIDAS 2.0 Personal ID adoption can happen quicker because of Org ID 30:00 - More on technical interoperability profiles: HAIP, DIIP, and the future of interop profiles 41:05 - Japanese government national ID, implications of governments issuing into Big Tech Wallets 46:00 - The Browser API for credential presentation 50:31 - Is there anything missing on top of eIDAS 2.0? 55:48 - About Presentation Exchange and its current/future roadmap in OpenID4VP

How can we establish trusted digital ecosystems while driving innovation? In this episode of The SSI Orbit Podcast, host Mathieu Glaude picks the brain of Dima Postnikov, Vice Chairman at the OpenID Foundation, on a standards-based solution: OpenID Federation – a framework for enabling trust across networks.As open banking and open finance initiatives spread, a crucial need arises: secure mechanisms for managing trust between participants. Dima walks us through the genesis of OpenID Federation and its role in overcoming hurdles around trust discovery and governance. The evolution of trust management approaches across sectors like open banking Understanding OpenID Federation's intersection with verifiable credentials Leveraging standards to reduce barriers and foster interoperability Tailoring OpenID Federation for use cases like eIDAS 2.0 digital identityUnpack the keys to unlocking trusted, interoperable ecosystems that safeguard data while catalyzing innovation. Tune in to this insightful conversation now!Chapters:00:00 - Background on trust management in the OpenID world03:49 - Learnings in trust management from the world of Open Banking11:58 - How trust chains complement/conflict with peer to peer interactions17:25 - OpenID Federation’s architecture design34:25 - The evolution of standards in Open Banking39:50 - eIDAS 2.0 profiles of OpenID Federation?47:47 - Why Canadian Open Banking should have Trust Registries at launch

Are you curious about how Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) has evolved over the years and where it is headed? In this episode of The SSI Orbit Podcast, host Mathieu Glaude sits down with Vladimir Vujovic, Head of Digital Product Management at SICPA to discuss the journey and future of SSI and decentralized identity technologies. Vladimir, with his extensive background in product management and experience in the SSI space since 2017, offers valuable insights into the technological advancements, challenges, and opportunities in this domain.From the early days of Evernym to the current state of mainstream adoption, Vladimir sheds light on the progress made and the hurdles still to be overcome. How have new credential formats and protocols impacted the industry? What role do government initiatives and large-scale pilots play in the broader adoption of SSI? Vladimir addresses these questions and more, providing a comprehensive overview of the SSI landscape.Join us as we explore the nuances of product development in the SSI space. Vladimir highlights the technical focus of digital wallet products and the need for companies to move beyond generic solutions to create value-added services tailored to specific industries. Discover the importance of making bold choices and the potential for growth in this evolving market.Chapters00:00 - How things have evolved since Evernym’s early days in 20278:50 - Have we lost the vision of ‘Self-Sovereignty’ with an overfocus on Government ID?20:30 - Complexity of exchange interactions in identity vs payments24:10 - Evolution in thinking around building SSI-enabled products31:00 - The complexities of issuing credentials vs verifying them39:10 - How far open source goes and impacts product design45:25 - Adoption curves, horizontal vs vertical product focus51:45 - Where the technical SSI space is at today