As more companies and governments start adopting verifiable digital ID credentials, one big question keeps coming up:
How do we make sure that only the right person can use them?
This was one of the key topics we tackled in our panel with Paul Kenny (VP of Customer Success at Daon) and Pedro Torres (CEO at Youverse). Both agreed—if credentials aren’t bound to the biometrics of the person they were issued to, they’re vulnerable.
Today, verifiable credentials typically live in a digital wallet on a user’s phone. But what happens if someone gets hold of that wallet?
Whether through social engineering, phone theft, or malware, nothing is stopping them from presenting those credentials and impersonating the rightful owner.
The Role of Biometric-Bound Credentials
That’s where biometric-bound credentials come in. They ensure that even if someone gains access to a wallet, they can’t use the credential unless their biometrics match the biometric proof linked to it.
Pedro compared it to a passport: it’s not just the document that matters, but also the photo that ties it to a real person.
The need for biometric-bound credentials is clear, but where can they have the strongest impact?
Use Cases for Biometric-Bound Credentials
1. Age Verification
With new regulations - like Australia’s upcoming rules blocking under-16s from social media - companies need a way to verify age without collecting excessive data.
A biometric-bound credential would allow its owner to prove they are over 18 without sharing other personal details like their name or ID number.
More importantly, it ensures that proof can’t be passed to a friend or misused by someone else.
2. Government-Issued IDs
We’re seeing a major push toward government-backed digital IDs like mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs) and the upcoming EU Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet).
Just like physical IDs have photos for a reason, these digital versions need to ensure only the rightful holder can use them.
3. Financial Services & Banking
Financial transactions require stronger identity verification than something like age checks. Opening a bank account, applying for a loan, or signing a contract are all high-risk actions that demand credentials that can’t be faked or passed around.
Biometric-bound credentials provide an added layer of security, ensuring that the person presenting the credential is the same person it was issued to.
They also reduce the need for repeated ID verification checks, enabling a more streamlined experience for users and institutions.
4. Travel & Border Control
Seamless border crossings are becoming a hot topic, especially as countries experiment with centralized biometrics.
Paul and Pedro discussed how some governments (especially in the U.S.) are pushing ahead with centralized biometric systems.
However, Europe is leaning towards decentralized, privacy-respecting models, making biometric-bound credentials a more attractive solution.
What Comes Next?
If identity companies want their digital ID credentials to be trusted, biometric binding needs to be part of the equation.
If your company is exploring issuing verifiable credentials, now’s the time to think about how biometric binding fits into your strategy.
