ESSIF specification for new capabilities in EBSI 

Today we are pleased to launch a new subsection of our Information Pills series, dedicated to the technical specifications developed within the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI).

During EBSI-VECTOR, significant efforts were dedicated to defining new functionalities within the European Self Sovereign Identity Framework (ESSIF) to be implemented in EBSI. The goal was to bridge the gap between technical development and practical application, ensuring coherence with emerging frameworks and standards in digital identity.

Hihglights and Outcomes:

• Electronic Signatures & Seals: JAdES-Baseline compliance has been advanced for remote e-sealing, with continued analysis of privacy and implementation guidelines.
• Verifiable Credentials (VCs) Data Models: Compatibility and interoperability between SD-JWT (for compact data) and JSON-LD (for semantic context) have been recognized, with mechanisms established for selective disclosure and data integrity.
• Data Security & Integrity: Blockchain-anchored DIDs and robust verification methods have been implemented to protect data during VC issuance and prevent tampering or semantic attacks.
• Credential Binding: Secure connections between attestation and identity credentials are being enabled.
• Qualified Trust Service Providers (QTSPs) & Wallets: Pathways for QTSP certification and integration with EBSI’s trusted registry have been clarified, including alignment with EUDI Wallet requirements for secure wallet provider authentication.

Conclusion:

This work establishes a solid foundation for advancing EBSI, addressing the essential capabilities for a robust, interoperable, and legally compliant digital identity infrastructure across Europe. These efforts are fully aligned with regulatory frameworks such as eIDAS 2.0 and support the development of a trusted European digital ecosystem.

Ultimately, these advances are directly enabling the practical deployment of EBSI Verifiable Credentials (EBSI-VC), ensuring that the technical and regulatory groundwork translates into real, secure, and interoperable digital identity solutions for citizens and organizations across Europe.

Full details are available in Deliverable D3.2: “ESSIF specification for the new capabilities in EBSI”. We encourage you to explore it further..