From May 26 to 28, 2025, it became clear at re:publica in Berlin: The EUDI-Wallet is far more than just a technical project. It is a strategic key instrument for a strong digital state in Germany and genuine digital sovereignty in Europe.

To be a digital state means: everyone should have a digital identity. A digital wallet. One for everything. That includes many things: from ID cards and driver’s licenses to public transport tickets, said Federal Minister for Digital Affairs and State Modernization, Karsten Wildberger, in his keynote at the festival for the digital society.

What exactly this government-issued wallet might look like was the topic of a panel discussion featuring Dr. Torsten Lodderstedt (SPRIND), Thomas Jarzombek (Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and State Modernization, BMDS), Claudia Plattner (Federal Office for Information Security, BSI), and moderator Thomas Ramge (SPRIND). The EUDI-Wallet is positioned as a central pillar of digital sovereignty in Europe. The panelists emphasized the importance of a secure, privacy-preserving, and user-controlled digital identity – as an alternative to existing platform logins and data silos.

The conversation particularly addressed the current state of development, upcoming challenges, and the EUDI Wallet's role in Europe's digital infrastructure. A particular highlight: Claudia Plattner gave a live demonstration of the current development status of the EUDI Wallet – a powerful signal for the emergence of a modern digital infrastructure for Germany and Europe.

In their Lightning Talk TRUST DIFFERENT – Identity Futures and the EUDI Wallet, Arne Petersen (SPRIND) and Christian Zöllner (Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle) offered creative perspectives on the future of digital identities. They explored how open, decentralized digital ecosystems can build trust in an age of AI and global cyber threats. Their presentation introduced the EUDI Wallet as a system built on open-source principles, decentralization, and edge computing – laying the foundation for a sovereign European data economy.

In the second Lightning Talk, Wallet of Life – How a Digital Wallet Saves You from Bureaucracy, Kristina Yasuda and Mirko Mollik (both SPRIND) illustrated how the EUDI Wallet could simplify bureaucratic processes in everyday life. From registering the birth of a child to visiting the doctor or providing proof of pension eligibility, digital credentials and secure consents could make daily life easier and save time – for all citizens.

At the SPRIND pop-up stand, additional Deep Dive sessions invited visitors to engage directly with the EUDI Wallet project team. The team addressed a wide range of questions – from data protection and technical architecture to social implications. Students from Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle also presented creative concepts for the future of digital identity. Their visions demonstrated how trust, usability, and design can come together in the EUDI Wallet – inclusive and user-centered.

Further information about the EUDI-Wallet can be found here.