Tl;dr Concordium announces a partnership with Digital Trust Solutions, aimed at transforming the onboarding process for users in Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, and Ghana. With the new African ID extension, users in these countries can now create verified identities and Concordium accounts while maintaining privacy using local identity documents alongside passports.

By enabling account creation using national ID documents instead of passports, we are removing a big adoption barrier — making it easier than ever for people to join the Concordium ecosystem.

Addressing the passport barrier to adoption

One of the main obstacles to CCD adoption in these African regions has been the requirement for a passport to verify identities. However, many people either don’t have a passport or face challenges in obtaining one. This has created a gap, leaving many potential users without access to Concordium blockchain.

By allowing users to verify their identity with local documents, we’re breaking down that barrier and opening up opportunities for a much wider audience to participate in the decentralized world.

This partnership is a key step forward, making onboarding smoother and more inclusive, while also enhancing security. And it’s just the beginning: our ongoing expansion in Africa will continue to focus on user-friendly, secure solutions that adapt to regional needs.

Securing trust through government verification

Security is always a priority at Concordium. To ensure the validity of local IDs, all provided documents will be cross-checked with government registry databases, ensuring the information is accurate and secure. This verification process helps prevent fraud and boosts trust in the identities created on our platform.

For NIN holders it gets even better, you don’t have to provide your NIN document’s scan now, you will be able to create accounts by simply typing your NIN number and using your selfie. This step is especially important to simplify the onboarding process.

This partnership aligns with Concordium’s commitment to regulatory compliance and transparency, reinforcing the privacy and trust that are fundamental to our blockchain technology.

Who benefits from this update?

• African CCD holders: Current and future users who have struggled with the passport requirement can now use local IDs, making it easier to create accounts and engage with the Concordium ecosystem.
• Application developers: Builders targeting African markets can now offer a seamless onboarding process to a wider user base, unlocking new opportunities for blockchain-powered solutions.

Timeline: Available now!

On September 27th, we launched the African ID extension on Concordium’s Testnet wallets to begin testing the integration. This testing phase was designed to refine the system before the feature went live on Mainnet in October 2024.

Why it matters: Get Involved Today

With the feature already available, we encourage everyone — whether you’re already part of the Concordium community or looking to create a new account — to take advantage of this feature. If you don’t have an account yet, this is your chance to create one using your local ID and experience the full power of Concordium’s secure and scalable blockchain.

Create your account here

This marks an exciting new chapter for Concordium’s expansion in Africa, with more strategic developments on the horizon. As adoption of blockchain technology grows, we’re committed to evolving our tools to meet the unique needs of each region.

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