Swiss City Announces Plan to Verify IDs Using Ethereum

The Swiss City of Zug, known for its cryptocurrency startup ecosystem, announced today that it will offer digital identity services through a new app, connecting a person's ID with a particular crypto-address. Local citizens can register and get verified by city officials, starting September. The app will leverage the uPort identity platform created by ConsenSys. The Swiss startup ti&m and the Lucerne University of Economics are also involved on the development of the app. Dolfi Müller, Zug's president, said:

"We want a single electronic identity – a kind of digital passport – for all possible applications. And we do not want this digital ID to be centralized at the city, but on the blockchain."