June 2025: A Turning Point for Digital Identity in the UK and EU

June 2025 marked a watershed moment for digital identity across Europe. Both the UK and EU made significant strides in building their digital identity foundations, setting the stage for how millions will prove who they are online in the coming years.From landmark legislation to successful cross-border payments, the month delivered concrete progress on multiple fronts.

Here's what enterprises need to know about these rapid shifts and their implications for digital credentials.

The EU Pushes Forward with EUDI Wallet

The European Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet took major steps toward reality in June 2025. The European Commission published three new implementing acts for public consultation, providing the detailed technical specifications needed to ensure interoperability across all 27 member states.

Financial Services Lead the Charge

The financial sector emerged as an early adopter:

• 80% of financial institutions still rely on document-based KYC processes, highlighting massive potential for improvement
• Visa, iGrant.io, and Banca Transilvania executed the first live EUDI wallet payment, proving cross-border capabilities
• Benefits include reduced fraud, faster onboarding, better GDPR/PSD2 compliance, and lower operational costs

Privacy by Design Takes Center Stage

The Privacy and Data Protection Summit in June reinforced the EU's commitment to privacy-first implementation:

• Data stored locally on user devices, not in central databases
• Built-in privacy dashboards giving users control
• Selective disclosure capabilities - prove you're over 18 without revealing your full birthdate

Progress and Challenges

Current Status:

• 9 countries have production wallets (Austria, Belgium, France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Portugal)
• 13 countries in development phase (including Germany, Spain, Netherlands)
• Member states must provide EUDI wallets by December 2026
• Regulated sectors must accept EUDI wallets by December 2027

Emerging Challenges:

• Technical specification disputes between major countries
• The European Commission now projects 80% availability by 2032, not 2030
• Complex retrofitting of legacy systems across diverse business models

UK Establishes Legal Foundation for Digital Identity

The UK took equally significant steps with the Data Use and Access Act 2025 receiving royal assent on June 19th. This legislation formalized what had been operating as a pilot scheme since April 2021.

New Government Powers

The Act enables the government to:

• Maintain an official register of digital verification service providers
• Issue UK Digital Identity Trust Marks
• Enable public authorities to share information with registered providers
• Produce annual reports on ecosystem development

Trust Framework Matures

The UK Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework (UKDIATF) released version 0.4 in June, introducing:

• New certification roles for holder service providers (digital wallet providers) and component service providers
• Improved biometric system fairness testing
• Modular approach allowing mixing and matching of certified components

Gov.uk Wallet Launch

The government confirmed the Gov.uk Wallet launch for June 2025:

• Starting with digital veterans cards
• Digital driving licenses to follow
• Security experts raised concerns about centralized storage risks

Private Sector Momentum

The UK's framework-based approach is driving strong private sector engagement:

• Over 50 companies certified under UKDIATF
• 85% serve the financial services sector
• OneID expanding bank-verified digital identity services
• UK Finance endorsed BSI's PAS 499 code of practice

Two Approaches, One Challenge

The UK and EU have chosen distinctly different paths:

EU Approach:

• Legislation-driven single wallet concept
• Harmonized approach across 27 member states
• Focus on pan-European integration

UK Approach:

• Framework-based encouraging private innovation
• Diverse market of certified providers
• Integration with national cybersecurity strategy

The Interoperability Question

These divergent approaches create a critical challenge: cross-border recognition isn't automatic. A digital driving license from the UK's Gov.uk Wallet won't necessarily be recognized by EU systems, and vice versa.

Achieving interoperability will require:

• Bilateral agreements between UK and EU
• Convergence on global standards (like W3C)
• Significant technical alignment efforts

What This Means for Enterprises

Organizations operating across UK and EU markets need to prepare for:

1. Dual compliance requirements - Different technical standards and certification processes
2. Multiple wallet integrations - Supporting both EUDI and UK-certified wallets
3. Timeline pressures - December 2027 deadline for EU regulated sectors
4. Strategic opportunities - Early adopters can gain competitive advantage

Looking Ahead

June 2025 solidified two sophisticated but separate digital identity ecosystems. The pressing question: Will user demand and global standards eventually force these systems to converge? Or will digital identity become another area where regional differences persist?

For enterprises, the message is clear: Start preparing now. Whether you're in financial services, healthcare, or any regulated sector, digital identity verification is rapidly moving from optional to essential.

Ready to navigate the evolving digital identity landscape? Contact Vidos to learn how our verification solutions support both UK and EU standards, ensuring your organization stays ahead of regulatory requirements while delivering seamless user experiences.

‍