EUDI Wallet: ID on your smartphone – and hardly anyone knows about it

The planned European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI) is hardly known in Germany so far. According to a representative survey commissioned by the digital association Bitkom, 52 percent of the population have never heard of the digital wallet. Another 18 percent know the term but don't know what it entails. Only 20 percent say they know the EUDI Wallet, and 5 percent can explain it well according to their assessment.

Based on the survey results, Bitkom President Ralf Wintergerst sees an urgent need for action: “The EUDI Wallet is one of the most significant innovations of recent years – a secure digital identity for all Europeans. The EUDI Wallet should become the standard, and for that, we need a broad awareness campaign now.”

The EUDI Wallet (European Digital Identity Wallet) will enable citizens to store identity documents and other credentials on their smartphones and present them when needed, starting January 2, 2027. More than 100 companies have already joined a Memorandum of Understanding from the Federal Ministry for Digital and State Modernization and Bitkom and want to drive development forward together. This includes, for example, the national ID card, driver's license, or certificates, but also contracts or insurance proofs. Technically, the concept relies on digitally signed credentials (“Verifiable Credentials”) that can be selectively shared – for example, to confirm age without revealing the exact date of birth.

For the survey, Bitkom Research telephoned 1,004 people aged 16 and over in Germany. The interviews took place in calendar weeks 9 to 12 of the year 2026. According to the information from Bitkom, the results are representative.

Interested readers can also find detailed information on the EUDI in the special section of the upcoming iX, which will be available in the heise shop on April 23 and at kiosks on April 24. Curious? Sign up here for our free iX newsletter.

(fo)