The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has signed a landmark agreement with Singapore-based Trident Digital Tech (NASDAQ: TDTH) to roll out a blockchain-powered national digital identity system. The initiative will begin with the launch of DRCPass, designed to complement and eventually replace physical ID cards, marking a major step in the country’s transition to a fully digital governance model.
At the signing ceremony, Augustin Kibassa Maliba, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Affairs, described the move as a “defining chapter in the digital rebirth” of the DRC, with the goal of achieving digital sovereignty, financial inclusion, and resilience. He expressed hopes that DRCPass would set a benchmark for other African nations and shape the future of governance on the continent.
Built on Trident’s Tridentity blockchain platform, DRCPass will provide citizens with a single secure digital identity to access multiple services. Features include robust security, single sign-on for government services, and potential integration of a rewards program.
The system will focus on four priority areas at launch:
- Government services access – enabling citizens to use one digital ID for multiple public services, improving efficiency and reducing delivery costs.
- SIM card registration – linking digital IDs to SIM cards to combat mobile fraud.
- One-click e-KYC – streamlining identity verification for digital payments.
- Real-time service expansion – broadening the range of services accessible instantly to citizens.
Trident founder and CEO Soon Huat Lim praised the DRC’s leadership for embracing a digital future and said the rollout could serve as a model for other African countries.
