Each month, we interview a leading personality in the identity industry to explore the latest trends, innovations and insights. This time, we spoke with Bart van der Geest, Head of compliance at Hopae, to discuss the future of digital identity.

With regulations tightening and user expectations shifting, the digital identity landscape is undergoing a major transformation. In this edition, we explore how eIDAS 2.0 and the introduction of the European Digital Identity Wallet are set to reshape compliance, trust and user experience across the EU — and what businesses need to do now to stay ahead.

Bart, can you tell us about your background, what you do now and what led you to work in the digital identity space?

I’ve always wanted to work at the intersection of law and technology, combining my field of study with an area that genuinely interests me. After graduating, just as GDPR was coming into force, I began my career in data privacy with roles at OneTrust DataGuidance and Securys, a privacy consultancy firm.

Now, as Head of Compliance at Hopae, I monitor developments around eIDAS 2.0. I also lead the integration of national e-IDs into our global verification platform, hConnect, and I represent Hopae in international, pan-European digital identity initiatives such as the upcoming WeBuild project and IATA’s Strategic Partnership Program.

For those new to the topic: What exactly is eIDAS 2.0, and how does it evolve from the original 2014 regulation? What’s driving this update and why should businesses care?

The original eIDAS Regulation (2014) created an EU-wide legal framework for electronic identification, authentication, and trust services. eIDAS 2.0 builds on that foundation by addressing gaps such as inconsistent cross-border recognition. eIDAS 2.0 also introduces a new digital-identity tool, the European Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet.

This update is driven by the need for a more user-friendly, privacy-enhancing system that works seamlessly across all EU Member States. For businesses, especially in identity verification, eIDAS 2.0 promises a single, secure standard for verifying customer identities, cutting through the fragmentation of national schemes.

Digital Identity Wallet agreement

As you mentioned, eIDAS 2.0 aims to cut through fragmentation with a more user-centric and secure approach. One of the key tools enabling this is the European Digital Identity Wallet, or EUDI Wallet. What exactly is it, and how could it reshape how people prove their identity when interacting with businesses digitally?

At its core, the EUDI Wallet is a smartphone app that stores all your digital credentials —passport, ID card, payment cards, health insurance, biometrics, loyalty cards, and other electronic attestations of authorization. Think of it as an electronic version of your physical wallet.

But unlike a physical wallet, the EUDI Wallet is built for the digital world: It allows users to share only the information needed (for example, confirming they’re over 18 without disclosing their exact birthdate) while enabling instant authentication across apps and websites, all while retaining full control over their data. For consumers, it’s more convenient and private; for businesses, it’s a single, trusted source of identity verification.

“Digital identity isn’t just about verifying who someone is, it’s about empowering individuals to control and protect their data in a connected world.”

How do you see evolving regulation (like GDPR, eIDAS 2.0, etc.) shaping the future of identity across both legacy verification systems and the newer wave of decentralized IDV approaches?

I don’t view regulations like GDPR and eIDAS 2.0 as compliance burdens; rather, they are opportunities to build better digital infrastructure for European citizens. Their extra-territorial reach means they influence global practices, too. Today’s identity landscape is fragmented and siloed. Strong regulations push us toward a unified, interoperable ecosystem that benefits both users and businesses — and I believe decentralized identity approaches will continue to mature and eventually complement, rather than replace, existing legacy verification systems.

Building on that, electronic IDs (eIDs) are a key part of this evolving identity ecosystem. Could you explain what they look like in practice today, what opportunities they create for businesses, and what challenges might come with integrating them into digital services?

Electronic IDs function as digital proof of identity and are typically issued by a trusted authorities, such as a governments. They come in various forms, from smart cards and mobile apps to centralized databases with API access. For businesses, eIDs offer high-assurance onboarding, reduced fraud, and greater customer trust because verification comes straight from an official source. The challenge is that each scheme uses different technologies, standards and APIs, so integrating them can be complex. That’s why we introduced hConnect: to smooth over those differences and give companies one consistent interface.

The two paths to eID integration

From a strategic and operational perspective, how should companies start preparing for eIDAS 2.0 and the adoption of eIDs — both to stay compliant and to unlock new business value?

From 2027, regulated industries in the European Union will need to accept the EUDI wallet as a new identification method online, which means they will need to put in place the means to verify them, as well as build processes around this new form of identification. Businesses should already start formulating plans and putting out a roadmap to meet this requirement by 2027, or else face the risk of non-compliance with eIDAS. As of today, there is still no penalty structure for non-compliance, but nonetheless companies should not sit idle. Early adopters can offer customers a smoother, more secure digital experience before competitors catch up.

Roadmap to Mandatory Digital ID Adoption in the EU

Looking ahead, what’s your personal mission for the future of digital identity and what major use cases do you see for business and industries?

I personally want to contribute to the future of digital identity by building eIDAS 2.0 compliant solutions. In terms of major use cases for the future of digital identity, I believe these will be primarily payments, age verification and travel, as these are the use cases where digital identity are likely to be used the most.

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