Bhutan has taken a major leap in digital trust with the launch of its new digital signature platform, powered by the country’s National Digital Identity (NDI) system. The initiative introduces decentralized identity (DID) and cryptographic verification to ensure secure, tamper-proof digital signing.
Unlike conventional electronic signatures, which can be vulnerable to forgery, the Bhutanese system ties each signature to a verifiable credential within the NDI wallet. This approach strengthens both security and authenticity, ensuring documents can be trusted even decades into the future.
The platform combines visible, human-readable signatures with advanced cryptographic backing. “This marks a significant leap forward in digital trust,” said Jacques von Benecke, Chief Executive Officer of the NDI. “By blending human recognition with machine-level verification, we’re creating a system that is both accessible and secure.”
Key features include multi-signatory workflows with transparent audit trails and a public verification portal that allows anyone to confirm the authenticity of signed documents. To further streamline processes, the NDI has also introduced a passport-style photo credential. This addition enhances Know Your Customer (KYC) checks, speeding up services such as opening bank accounts.
At present, the platform is being deployed on individual organizational servers. However, there are plans to roll it out more broadly, enabling the public to use the service for independent document signing and verification.
Bhutan’s latest digital trust innovation not only strengthens the country’s e-governance infrastructure but also sets a benchmark for how secure identity and signature systems can be designed for the future.
