As governments move toward digital identity and tighten compliance requirements, one challenge remains largely unresolved. It’s about how to prove that someone was physically present at a particular place and time without sacrificing privacy.
Hashgraph Group and Truesense believe they have the answer.
The companies announced that they have jointly filed a European patent for what they call Continuous Identity Trust Infrastructure (CITI), a new framework designed to connect real-world physical presences with decentralized digital identity credentials.
The patent application was filed with the European Patent Office in April and covers more than 44 European jurisdictions. A separate application process for the United States is also underway.
Bringing physical identity on-chain
At its core, CITI aims to solve growing problems for governments, businesses, and regulated industries.
Digital ID systems can verify who is online. Access control systems can check if someone has entered the building. However, connecting these two events in a secure, auditable, and privacy-preserving manner remains difficult.
CITI combines three new technologies:
Ultra-wideband (UWB) spatial sensing
Decentralized Identifier (DID)
Zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) encryption
The system works by detecting the physical presence of a person within a specific location using ultra-wideband technology. That presence event is then cryptographically linked to a person’s decentralized identity wallet and converted into verifiable credentials that can later be independently verified.
Rather than exposing personal information or location data, zero-knowledge proofs allow third parties to verify credentials without revealing sensitive information.
The result is a tamper-proof record that proves that an authenticated individual was physically present at a particular place and time.
Why Europe is moving towards digital identity
The timing of the patent application is noteworthy.
Across Europe, digital identity infrastructure is rapidly becoming a regulatory priority.
The EU’s eIDAS 2.0 framework requires member states to start 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 companies operating in critical sectors.
The European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI), a pan-European initiative supported by the European Commission, is also expanding support for decentralized identities and verifiable credentials frameworks.
CITI seems designed to fit directly into that evolving ecosystem.
According to the companies, the framework is EBSI standard compliant and supports W3C decentralized identifiers and verifiable credentials.
From the stadium to the hospital
Digital ID often sounds abstract, but its potential applications are surprisingly practical.
Stadiums can verify that ticket holders have physically entered the venue before issuing a digital entry certificate.
Hospitals can ensure that only authorized personnel with valid certificates of presence have access to restricted zones.
Manufacturing facilities could potentially create an immutable audit trail of who entered a secure area and when.
Financial institutions can enforce 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 authenticated identity and verified physical presence, organizations can gain stronger assurance without collecting additional personal data.
Hedera’s identity ambitions continue to expand
The announcement also highlights broader trends emerging within the Hedera ecosystem.
While blockchain discussions often focus on payments, tokenization, and decentralized finance, digital identity has quietly become one of the fastest growing areas in enterprise blockchain development.
While Hashgraph Group has spent the past few years building infrastructure around decentralized trust systems, Truesense specializes in ultra-wideband sensing technology and privacy-focused security solutions.
According to Stefan Deiss, CEO of The Hashgraph Group, the goal is to build an infrastructure that bridges the physical and digital worlds while supporting Europe’s growing interest in digital sovereignty.
The companies say the patent is the culmination of years of collaboration focused on identity systems for individuals, connected devices, and autonomous agents.
Build the next layer of trust
As artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and digital identities become increasingly intertwined, verifying that a real person was physically present during a particular event can become just as important as verifying their online identity.
The challenge goes far beyond access control.
Future applications may include digital credentials, transportation systems, smart cities, medical infrastructure, autonomous machine interaction, compliance reporting, and more.
It remains to be seen whether CITI will ultimately become a widely adopted standard.
But the filing signals a growing recognition that next-generation digital ID systems may require more than simply proving who you are online.
You may also need to prove where you have been without compromising your privacy in the process.
