Sherab Lhamo

On August 5, Bhutan NDI successfully migrated its users to the Polygon Blockchain. A total of 101,068 registered users were transitioned in this update.

With the new migration, users no longer need to undergo complex procedures like multi-directional face recognition. Now, simply looking into the camera in good lighting and with proper face placement will allow the system to quickly recognise and process the user’s face.

The Polygon Blockchain supports zero-knowledge proof protocols, which allow the Bhutan NDI platform to enable users to share only the essential information needed for authentication and verification, as required by law, for online interactions, according to a Bhutan NDI official.

The migration aimed to leverage the robust, scalable, and interoperable infrastructure of Polygon and CREDEBL to improve the security, performance, and user experience of digital identity-based services in the country.

CREDEBL is an open-source, decentralised identity and verifiable information management platform that is scalable and capable of handling extensive information related to the issuance and authentication of verifiable credentials.

CREDEBL is a platform registered with the Digital Public Good Alliance (DPGA), United Nation(UN) endorsed entity that evaluates and maintains a registry of Digital Public Goods globally. By adopting CREDEBL, Bhutan NDI aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

CEO of Druk Holding and Investments, Ujjwal Deep Dahal, said the migration to the Polygon Blockchain was a major step forward in empowering individuals with secure national digital identities.

“By harnessing the advanced capabilities of Polygon, we are not only enhancing the security and scalability of our platform but also opening new doors for innovation and interoperability within the decentralised identity space,” said the CEO.

Before migrating to the Polygon blockchain, Bhutan NDI was built on Hyperledger Indy, a decentralised identity management platform that offers tools, libraries, and reusable components for creating digital identities based on blockchains, according to their website.

Other new features include a verifier app for organisations needing to verify users on the go, such as traffic police checking a driver’s license or vehicle registration. The app will be rolled out after a few days, as the final round of quality tests is being completed.

Additional use cases will include the issuance of driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations by the Bhutan Construction and Transport Authority through the Bhutan NDI wallet, as well as integration with Thimphu TechPark for passwordless login.

There will be a wallet backup feature, which will automatically back up users’ wallets to prevent loss of verifiable credentials in cases of lost, damaged, or changed smartphones.

Jacques Von Benecke, chief technology officer at Druk Holding and Investments, said, “Inclusion and sustainability are essential, along with privacy and security, making it crucial to align our efforts with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).”

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