The Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA) has solidified its commitment to digital innovation by joining the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI) network. The MDIA will serve as Malta’s EBSI Node Operator, with the Maltese node hosted and supported by the Malta Information Technology Agency (MITA). This development follows a successful endorsement by the EUROPEUM-EDIC, an entity governed by a consortium of EU Member States responsible for continuing the activities of the European Blockchain Partnership and supporting the EBSI network and its use cases.
EBSI, a peer-to-peer permissioned blockchain network, was launched by the European Commission and the European Blockchain Partnership. Its primary objective is to improve cross-border public services through a secure, resilient, and decentralized network capable of verifying credential information without a single point of failure. The network spans 29 countries, including all 27 EU Member States, as well as Norway and Liechtenstein, and comprises 40 public bodies.
A core aim of EBSI is to streamline cross-border digital services, promoting efficiency, security, and trust among EU Member States. Malta’s participation in the EBSI network is considered a significant step that could unlock new opportunities, leveraging the capabilities of EBSI to advance Malta’s digital transformation journey.
EBSI has established frameworks, categorized into ‘Use Case Families,’ to address business challenges using blockchain technology. These families include Verifiable Credentials, Trusted Data Exchange, and Track and Trace. Public bodies and other organizations can issue and certify verifiable credentials, which represent attributes of either individuals (such as identity documents, driving licenses, work permits, or diplomas) or legal entities. The owner of these credentials, known as ‘the user,’ can store them in their digital EBSI Conformant wallet.
After a public body successfully issues verifiable credentials, the user can present them to access services. This presentation can be verified through the EBSI ledger, a secure, decentralized database that facilitates the verification process and prevents the risk of falsified claims.
The EBSI network, and specifically its Verifiable Credentials Use Case Family, empowers users with complete control over what information is verified, by whom, and when. Through this self-sovereign information sharing, EBSI enables privacy-preserving selective disclosure, allowing users to share only the necessary credentials without revealing any irrelevant information.
EBSI is notable as the first pan-European blockchain infrastructure driven by the public sector and managed by EU Member States. This EU-wide collaboration in developing the EBSI network ensures that its technology, policies, and frameworks adhere to EU regulations, including GDPR and eIDAS, and reflects the EU’s commitment to protecting user privacy. It offers a standardized method for representing trust relationships and accreditations in a digital, machine-readable format using standardized data and signature formats, making it adaptable to a wide range of applications.
EBSI is expected to play a crucial role in the European Union’s ongoing digital transformation efforts. The MDIA’s role as EBSI Node Operator underscores the Authority’s dedication to facilitating and supporting the adoption of digital innovation by both the Maltese public and private sectors.
