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As governments push forward with digital identity initiatives and stricter compliance requirements, one challenge remains largely unsolved: how do you prove someone was physically present at a specific place and time without sacrificing privacy?
The Hashgraph Group and Truesense believe they have an answer.
The two companies announced they have jointly filed a European patent application for what they call Continuous Identity Trust Infrastructure (CITI), a new framework designed to connect real-world physical presence with decentralized digital identity credentials.
The patent application was submitted to the European Patent Office in April and covers more than 44 European jurisdictions. A separate filing process for the United States is also underway.
Bringing Physical Identity Onchain
At its core, CITI aims to solve a growing problem for governments, enterprises, and regulated industries.
Digital identity systems can verify who someone is online. Access control systems can verify whether someone entered a building. But linking those two events in a secure, auditable, and privacy-preserving way remains difficult.
CITI combines three emerging technologies:
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Ultra-Wideband (UWB) spatial sensing
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Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs)
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Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) cryptography
The system works by detecting a person's physical presence within a specific location using ultra-wideband technology. That presence event is then cryptographically linked to the individual's decentralized identity wallet and transformed into a verifiable credential that can later be independently validated.
Rather than exposing personal information or location data, zero-knowledge proofs allow third parties to verify the credential without revealing sensitive details.
The result is a tamper-resistant record proving that a verified individual was physically present at a specific place and time.
Why Europe Is Moving Toward Digital Identity
The timing of the patent application is notable.
Across Europe, digital identity infrastructure is rapidly becoming a regulatory priority.
The EU's eIDAS 2.0 framework requires member states to begin offering EU Digital Identity Wallets by the end of 2026, creating a standardized approach to digital identity across the bloc.
At the same time, regulations such as NIS2 are increasing cybersecurity and auditability requirements for businesses operating in critical sectors.
The European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI), a pan-European initiative backed by the European Commission, is also expanding support for decentralized identity and verifiable credential frameworks.
CITI appears designed to fit directly into that evolving ecosystem.
According to the companies, the framework aligns with EBSI standards while supporting W3C Decentralized Identifiers and Verifiable Credentials.
From Stadiums to Hospitals
While digital identity often sounds abstract, the potential applications are surprisingly practical.
A stadium could verify that a ticket holder physically entered a venue before issuing a digital attendance credential.
A hospital could ensure that only authorized personnel with valid presence credentials gain access to restricted zones.
Manufacturing facilities could create immutable audit trails showing who entered secure areas and when.
Financial institutions could strengthen compliance requirements around physical verification while maintaining user privacy.
The companies argue that traditional access systems based on badges, passwords, or QR codes are increasingly vulnerable to sharing, duplication, and fraud.
By linking access to a verified identity and confirmed physical presence, organizations may gain stronger assurance without collecting additional personal data.
Hedera's Identity Ambitions Continue to Expand
The announcement also highlights a broader trend emerging within the Hedera ecosystem.
While blockchain discussions often focus on payments, tokenization, or decentralized finance, digital identity has quietly become one of the fastest-growing areas of enterprise blockchain development.
The Hashgraph Group has spent the past several years building infrastructure around decentralized trust systems, while Truesense specializes in ultra-wideband sensing technology and privacy-focused security solutions.
According to The Hashgraph Group CEO Stefan Deiss, the goal is to create infrastructure that bridges the physical and digital worlds while supporting Europe's growing focus on digital sovereignty.
The two companies say the patent represents the culmination of years of collaboration focused on identity systems for individuals, connected devices, and autonomous agents.
Building the Next Layer of Trust
As artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and digital identity become increasingly intertwined, verifying that a real person was physically present during a specific event may become just as important as verifying their online identity.
That challenge extends far beyond access control.
Future applications could include digital credentials, transportation systems, smart cities, healthcare infrastructure, autonomous machine interactions, and compliance reporting.
Whether CITI ultimately becomes a widely adopted standard remains to be seen.
But the filing signals a growing recognition that the next generation of digital identity systems may require more than simply proving who you are online.
They may also need to prove where you were — without compromising privacy in the process.