Spanish telecommunications giant Telefónica has joined Privado ID as a systems integrator to develop new digital identity solutions leveraging decentralized technologies.
According to a press release shared with crypto.news, Telefónica Tech, the digital division of Telefónica, will work with Privado ID to create a secure and privacy-focused service that complies with the latest European digital identity regulations.
Privado ID, formerly known as Polygon ID, was spun off from Polygon Labs in June 2024. The project specializes in privacy-focused digital identity solutions, enabling on-chain verification while protecting user privacy.
This partnership comes in response to the EU’s new digital identity rules, eIDAS 2.0, which mandate all EU member states to provide their citizens with a digital identity wallet. With the 2026 deadline for digital identity wallets approaching, Telefónica Tech and Privado ID are working together to create a solution that meets these standards.
Partnership Details
As part of the collaboration, Privado ID will integrate with Telefónica Tech’s TrustOS platform, a managed blockchain service that connects businesses to various blockchain networks to facilitate secure and transparent digital transactions.
Telefónica Tech will enhance its content authentication service by leveraging Privado ID’s digital identity platform to introduce the ability to issue certificates in the form of verifiable credentials. This will allow users to automatically issue certificates such as educational certificates, degree certificates, and attendance certificates as secure, privacy-compliant verifiable credentials that can be stored in a digital wallet.
Additionally, Telefónica Tech and Privado ID will develop a proof of concept for digital identity, starting with an age verification system that enables secure access to adult content and gambling platforms, while also exploring additional applications such as digital national identity, e-signature solutions, and loyalty that protects personal information.
David Schwartz, CEO and co-founder of Privado ID, believes this collaboration will “help us bring enterprise customers into the Privado ID ecosystem.”
Telefónica’s foray into blockchain
Telefónica’s blockchain involvement extends beyond this partnership. The company previously worked with Chainlink to secure API connections on the Polygon network using decentralized oracle technology, ensuring reliable data transfer between external systems and blockchain applications.
In January, the telecom giant partnered with Nova Labs to launch Helium Mobile Hotspots in Mexico, expanding its mobile coverage in select areas. The Madrid-based company also announced plans to build a metaverse after signing a deal with chipmaker Qualcomm in 2022.