identity

According to ChainCatcher information, in a recent LinkedIn post by Gate Europe CEO Dr. Giovanni Cunti, as digital assets, online banking, digital payments, and tokenized financial products continue to develop, digital identity is gradually becoming the core infrastructure connecting users with financial products and services, moving away from traditional compliance processes such as KYC and risk assessment. In the face of users' dual demands for efficient access to financial services and the security of personal information, the industry needs to enhance service efficiency while also considering security, privacy, and trust. The next generation of identity infrastructure should go beyond a single verification function, incorporating security, privacy, compliance, and user experience into a unified framework. This can reduce unnecessary operational costs, such as redundant information submissions, through reliable identity verification, while also enhancing transparency and protection regarding the collection, storage, and use of personal data.Dr. Giovanni Cunti further pointed out that regulatory standards are also the cornerstone of building a digital financial trust system. For digital asset platforms, as business expands from cryptocurrency trading to stablecoins, tokenized assets, payments, and multi-asset financial solutions, the importance of trustworthy infrastructure continues to rise. Gate Europe has completed the dual licensing layout of MiCA and PI under the regulation of the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) and emphasizes that secure access, robust compliance processes, and responsible handling of user information are key conditions for promoting the long-term development of financial services. Digital identity is becoming an important part of the financial ecosystem, and Gate Europe will continue to explore more possibilities in diverse financial scenarios, bringing users a more convenient and reliable digital financial service experience, and helping accelerate the integration of global financial markets.

After the overseas CEX Apps like Bybit and OKX were removed from the local Google Play in South Korea, the country is further tightening the process of transferring crypto assets to overseas platforms. According to the latest amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Specific Financial Information Act, South Korean trading platforms will need to determine whether to allow transfers based on the risk level of the overseas platforms; when transferring to certain overseas trading platforms or personal wallets, users may be required to prove that the account belongs to them and explain the purpose of the transaction and the source of funds. If the information is insufficient, the transfer may be delayed or refused.Transactions reaching 10 million Korean won or more will also be included in the suspicious transaction monitoring system established by the exchanges, and the relevant regulations will be implemented six months after their announcement.

According to Vietnamese media An Ninh Tien Te, the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam proposed to expand the scope of electronic identification subjects in the draft of the "Electronic Identification and Authentication Law," incorporating data, applications, digital assets, and various other assets. The draft stipulates that electronic identification subjects include not only institutions, organizations, and individuals but also extend to physical entities such as products, goods, and equipment, as well as digital resources and digital assets like databases, documents, images, and videos. The identification of digital assets is executed in accordance with the provisions of the Digital Technology Industry Law.The draft also establishes mechanisms for the suspension, restoration, and cancellation of electronic identities and identification codes. The Ministry of Public Security stated that the current electronic identification primarily serves the digital construction of citizens and the government, but in the context of the rapid development of the digital economy and digital society, a unified identification mechanism needs to be established, covering various entities in both physical and digital environments.

According to official news, Base Build announced the launch of Base Verify Onchain to address the issue of witch attacks in the blockchain ecosystem. This feature has been launched on the Base Sepolia test network, allowing developers to implement the "one real user, one claim" rule in smart contracts. Base Build stated that traditional airdrop mechanisms are easily manipulated by bulk wallets, and a large number of rewards are often obtained by professional airdrop farmers, while users who genuinely participate in product development can only receive limited benefits.Base Verify Onchain helps project teams identify multiple wallets controlled by the same user by generating a stable identity hash for each real user, without needing to obtain users' names, account information, or other private data. Users can complete verification through existing accounts such as Coinbase, Instagram, X, and TikTok. The system then returns a verified identity credential to the smart contract, which automatically enforces rules such as claim limits, voting restrictions, or quota controls. Currently, Base Verify has been used over 300,000 times and serves collaborative projects such as Base App, Cody, Scratch, and Bracket. Base Build stated that Verify Onchain will provide fairer airdrops, token distributions, governance voting, and user incentive mechanisms for decentralized applications. Developers can use this technology to limit the number of claims per real user, allocate rewards based on real identities, or convert real-world signals into on-chain credibility, thereby reducing the impact of bots and multi-wallet manipulation on the fairness of Web3 applications.

According to The Block, Aztec Labs has acquired Obsidion, the company behind the open-source privacy identity verification tool ZKPassport. Its co-founders Michael Elliot and Theo Madzou, along with their team, will join Aztec Labs to continue developing ZKPassport and related applications.Aztec Labs is building the Ethereum privacy layer two network Aztec Network, which raised approximately $60 million worth of ETH through the AZTEC token sale last year, and previously secured about $125 million in venture capital.ZKPassport allows users to read passports or government documents via mobile NFC, generating cryptographic signatures locally for verifying age, nationality, and "real identity" without exposing full privacy. It has been used for ticketing at the Devconnect conference and for compliance identity verification in the Aztec community token sale. Aztec stated that it will continue to keep the ZKPassport protocol and iOS application open source.

AI predicts the market project NeoSoul collaborates with 0G to launch the prediction credentials on-chain identity credential campaign, with the first batch of credentials opening for minting on May 27. This campaign is aimed at NeoSoul and 0G ecosystem users, focusing on early identity verification, community participation, and on-chain interactions within 0G. Eligible users can obtain credentials minted through the 0G network as their early on-chain identity credentials.According to reports, NeoSoul has previously been conducting on-chain activities within the 0G ecosystem and has created over 100,000 Agents in total. This credentials campaign will set different levels of identity, and users can unlock corresponding credentials based on their task completion status. Specific rules can be found on the official website.It is reported that credential holders will have the opportunity to receive more ecosystem rewards and qualifications for future activities.

On May 13, BNB Chain announced the launch of an on-chain autonomous agent framework, enabling autonomous agents to obtain decentralized identities through the ERC-8004 standard, conduct peer-to-peer payments, delegate tasks to other agents via ERC-8183, and accumulate verifiable on-chain reputation on 8004scan. The entire system operates fully on-chain, with transactions being transparent and auditable, supporting hierarchical agency relationships.The framework integrates various skill modules, including native BNB Chain smart contract execution, querying on-chain data through natural language, Nodereal's MegaNode API infrastructure (providing access to over 25 blockchain networks), and meme token management capabilities provided by fourdotmemezh Agent Skills. Additionally, the BNB Chain Knowledge Base Model Context Protocol (MCP) allows agents to query blockchain documents and receive instant answers, extending agent functionalities to applications such as DeFi and asset management.

According to official news, the on-chain identity project Phi will cease operations on May 25, and phi.box and other services will be discontinued, but the PHI token will be retained and continue to trade on Aerodrome.Phi stated that in January of this year, the team underwent large-scale layoffs to reduce costs in search of a sustainable development path. In the following months, Phi explored various possibilities, including transitioning into the prediction market or artificial intelligence fields, but currently, the funds can no longer support the project's continued operation.

Cointelegraph Research's latest report shows that the United Nations Development Programme is applying blockchain technology to the construction of public digital infrastructure, focusing on addressing issues of transparency, collaborative efficiency, and trustworthy data sharing in government systems.The report "New Tech, New Partners" outlines 42 practical cases covering areas such as digital payments, financial inclusion, climate funding, data governance, and community investment, among which 7 focus on digital identity and data systems, primarily distributed in developing economies in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Eastern Europe. The research points out that UNDP adopts a "pilot---validate---scale" approach, collaborating with governments, developers, and local businesses to first implement small-scale projects and then gradually promote them based on actual results. It also emphasizes a "platform-agnostic" architecture to maintain system openness and interoperability. Furthermore, the report highlights the importance of governance and risk control, stating that the application of blockchain in public systems requires accompanying privacy protection, regulatory frameworks, and audit mechanisms to prevent data misuse and smart contract risks. Overall, blockchain is extending from financial scenarios to public governance infrastructure, becoming one of the important technological options for digital transformation in various countries.

According to official news, the identity verification infrastructure VeryAI has announced the completion of a $10 million financing round, led by Polychain Capital, with participation from angel investors including the Berggruen Institute, Anagram, and Solana co-founder Toly.VeryAI is committed to building a privacy-first verification system based on palm print biometrics and cryptographic identity technology, aiming to distinguish real humans from bots, deepfakes, and synthetic identities at internet scale.

According to Jin Shi citing CCTV News, a representative of the Expert Assembly in Mazandaran Province, Iran, stated that the members of the Expert Assembly have fulfilled their duties, and the successor to Khamenei's legacy will be officially announced soon.He pointed out that the Expert Assembly has never faced such immense pressure as it does now, with hostile forces attempting to force the assembly to abandon its selected candidate, but the members have resisted external interference.

Due to pressure from multiple state attorneys general, Bitcoin ATM operator Bitcoin Depot will require customers to provide personal identification for verification each time they use its ATMs.The company stated that this move aims to combat account sharing, identity theft, and account takeover, marking a significant advancement in preventing fraud and illegal activities. Earlier this month, the Massachusetts Attorney General filed a lawsuit against the company, accusing it of deliberately profiting from scams targeting the elderly. FBI data shows that losses from cryptocurrency ATM fraud in the U.S. will reach $333 million by 2025. Currently, Bitcoin Depot operates 8,800 ATMs in North America.

According to The Block, South Korean prosecutors have recovered approximately $21.4 million worth of Bitcoin (BTC) that was previously stolen from their custody last year.In December last year, South Korean prosecutors discovered that the Bitcoin seized during a raid on a gambling platform had gone missing. An internal investigation revealed that in August this year, investigators accidentally accessed a phishing website and entered their recovery mnemonic, leading to the Bitcoin being stolen by hackers.The hacker returned 320.8 BTC to a wallet controlled by South Korean law enforcement on Tuesday. Prosecutors stated that they had previously blocked the hacker's transactions on centralized exchanges, making it difficult for them to cash out the Bitcoin. The hacker's identity remains unknown. Prosecutors have transferred the returned Bitcoin to a local exchange for safekeeping and will continue to investigate the hacker's identity.

On-chain detective ZachXBT posted about the user @sexinfochina, stating, "This user deliberately concealed the fact that they are an online criminal operating the Chinese dark web market 'FreeCity'. They publicly promote certain illegal services on Telegram and knowingly facilitated five money laundering transactions for North Korean hackers. Two years ago, this user asked me to investigate the reason a CEX account was frozen, and I found that it traced back on-chain to a theft case involving over a hundred million dollars by North Korean hackers."In addition, ZachXBT responded, "Although most users of this dark web platform are Chinese, many illegal transactions occur in Southeast Asia and other places."