Trust Stamp in Talks for Nigerian Digital ID Project
AI and identity solutions provider Trust Stamp announced it is in strategic discussions with Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). The potential partnership would focus on integrating privacy-first biometric solutions into the country's digital trust framework.
- Nigeria's digital ID project, dubbed "Identification for Development" (ID4D), is a high-priority national initiative backed by approximately $430 million from the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, and the French Development Agency. The goal is to issue a National Identification Number (NIN) to 180 million citizens by December 2026 to improve access to services and financial inclusion. - Trust Stamp's technology is centered around creating an "Irreversibly Transformed Identity Token" (IT2), a pseudonymous digital identity created by hashing biometric data. This IT2 token can be stored on a blockchain or other distributed ledgers to facilitate identity verification without exposing raw biometric data. - In November 2025, Trust Stamp announced a cryptocurrency and asset tokenization initiative, including a biometrically-secured, non-custodial "TSI Wallet". The wallet, planned for a Q1 2026 launch, is designed to secure digital assets and embed tokenized identity attributes for KYC/AML compliance. - This partnership aligns with the Nigerian government's broader blockchain ambitions; the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is already working on creating a native blockchain called "Nigerium" to secure national data and promote local innovation. - Nigeria has one of the highest crypto adoption rates in the world, with about 32% of the population estimated to have used crypto. In 2025, the country passed the Investments and Securities Act (ISA), which officially classifies cryptocurrencies and other digital assets as securities, bringing them under a formal regulatory framework. - The collaboration aims to provide small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria with access to advanced verification tools that are typically only available to large multinational banks, potentially fostering a more inclusive digital economy. - Beyond Nigeria, Trust Stamp is actively expanding its footprint in Africa. In September 2025, the company signed an exclusive Memorandum of Understanding with Ghana's National Identity Agency to provide similar identity tokenization services. The company is also building its team in Rwanda to develop Africa-centric tokenized biometric solutions for the 1.3 billion-person market created by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
