Conference Description
Key Takeaways
- Academic and industry workshop exploring blockchain-based approaches to digital identity and decentralised trust
- Focus on self-sovereign identity frameworks that give individuals control over personal data
- Addresses emerging challenges around assigning verifiable identities to AI agents and autonomous systems
- Covers regulatory compliance including eIDAS 2.0 and GDPR requirements
- Designed for researchers, technologists and decision-makers across finance, government, healthcare and supply chain sectors
Introduction
The Second International Workshop on Blockchain for Decentralized Trust and Digital Identity (B4TI 4.0) brings together academic researchers and industry practitioners to examine how distributed ledger technologies can reshape digital trust frameworks. Taking place in Barcelona from November 16–20, 2026, the workshop addresses a fundamental challenge facing organisations across sectors: establishing reliable mechanisms for identity verification and trust in increasingly digital environments. The event is colocated with the 8th International Conference on Blockchain Computing and Application (BCCA 2026).
As online interactions continue to expand across commerce, government services and personal communications, traditional centralised approaches to identity management face mounting pressure. Concerns around data breaches, privacy violations and single points of failure have driven interest in decentralised alternatives that distribute control away from central authorities and toward individual users.
Self-Sovereign Identity and User Autonomy
A central theme of B4TI 4.0 is self-sovereign identity, a paradigm that positions individuals as the primary controllers of their digital identities and personal data. Rather than relying on third-party organisations to store and manage identity credentials, self-sovereign systems enable users to hold their own verifiable credentials and selectively disclose information as needed.
This approach draws on blockchain and distributed ledger technologies to create tamper-resistant records that can be independently verified without requiring trust in a central authority. The workshop examines both the theoretical foundations of these systems and practical implementation challenges, including interoperability between different identity frameworks and cross-border recognition of credentials.
Cryptographic Foundations for Privacy-Preserving Systems
Advanced cryptographic techniques underpin many of the trust mechanisms under discussion at the workshop. Zero-knowledge proofs allow one party to demonstrate knowledge of information without revealing the information itself—enabling, for example, proof of age without disclosing a birth date. Threshold signatures distribute signing authority across multiple parties, reducing the risk associated with any single compromised key. Secure multiparty computation enables collaborative processing of sensitive data without any participant gaining access to the complete dataset.
These techniques are particularly relevant as organisations seek to balance transparency and accountability with privacy requirements under regulations such as GDPR. The workshop explores how cryptographic approaches can satisfy both operational needs and regulatory obligations.
Digital Identity for AI Agents and Autonomous Systems
An emerging area of focus at B4TI 4.0 concerns the assignment of verifiable digital identities to AI agents and autonomous systems. As artificial intelligence increasingly operates with greater autonomy—executing transactions, making decisions and interacting with other systems—questions arise about accountability, traceability and trust. The workshop examines frameworks for establishing provenance and maintaining audit trails in systems where AI agents act on behalf of individuals or organisations.
This intersection of decentralised identity and AI governance reflects broader industry concerns about ensuring transparent and accountable decision-making as automated systems take on more significant roles.
Regulatory Landscape and Compliance Considerations
The workshop addresses governance and regulatory compliance, with particular attention to eIDAS 2.0, the European Union’s updated framework for electronic identification and trust services. This regulation establishes requirements for digital identity wallets and cross-border recognition of electronic credentials across EU member states, creating both opportunities and compliance obligations for organisations developing identity solutions.
Sessions examine how decentralised identity architectures can align with regulatory requirements while preserving the user autonomy and privacy characteristics that distinguish them from centralised alternatives.
Who Should Attend
B4TI 4.0 is structured for academic researchers and PhD students working in computer science, cryptography and information security, alongside industry professionals in blockchain, digital identity and cybersecurity. Technology architects, product managers and developers will find relevant technical content, while executives and decision-makers in finance, government, healthcare, education and supply chain sectors can gain insight into emerging trust frameworks that may affect their operations. Representatives from standards bodies and regulatory organisations are also part of the intended audience.
The workshop format combines paper presentations, keynotes and networking opportunities, facilitating collaboration between academic research and practical industry application.