Digital credential wallet is now online! The initial feature allowing in-store pickup has caused controversy, and the blockchain community points out shortcomings in the product strategy.

The Digital Certification Wallet launched by the Digital Development Department, with the first wave supporting cashless pickup at convenience stores without ID. Although it possesses progressive values such as personal data autonomy, it faces product strategy doubts due to its limited functionality and application scenarios.

The Digital Certification Wallet is officially launched, with the first wave focusing on cashless pickup at convenience stores

Taiwan’s Digital Development Department recently officially launched the Digital Certification Wallet App and announced six major trial operation fields. This app is not a traditional electronic wallet but a carrier that digitizes paper documents such as ID cards and driver’s licenses.

The Digital Development Department emphasizes that, through the Digital Certification Wallet, citizens can verify their identity by “selective disclosure,” providing only necessary information to ensure data security.

Currently, the first wave of features only includes “cashless pickup,” where after applying for and binding a telecom number to an electronic card, users can go to FamilyMart or 7-11 convenience stores to pick up goods, simply showing a barcode on their phone to replace physical ID for identity verification, aiming to simplify the pickup process and reduce privacy leakage risks.

• Click here to see: What is the Digital Certification Wallet? How is it different from the Natural Person Certificate? How to apply for trial qualification?

Image source: Digital Certification Wallet App Store

Criticism of the Digital Certification Wallet functionality: Convenience store apps have been doing this for a long time

Although well-intentioned, the Digital Certification Wallet’s initial launch with only the cashless pickup feature has sparked much discussion on social platform Threads.

Some netizens questioned, Currently, major convenience store apps already have built-in pickup functions. For delivery services, even zero-cost parcels support barcode scanning. It seems redundant for the government to spend budget developing a new app.

Others responded that when the government promoted digital health insurance cards in the past, there were often issues with clerks not accepting them or requiring physical cards, raising doubts about whether the new Digital Certification Wallet can truly become widespread.

Image source: Wiki Free Image Library

Industry Perspective: Product strategy causes misunderstandings, privacy is just a side dish

Crypto media “Industry Perspective” author Xu Ming-en recently used a clever headline to attract attention: “Laugh Out Loud! Is the Convenience Store Pickup App Actually a National Digital Infrastructure?” but in fact, he deeply discussed the true intention behind the Digital Certification Wallet.

Xu Ming-en believes that current public criticism is quite reasonable and accurately points out the shortcomings in the product strategy of the Digital Certification Wallet. He compares the Digital Certification Wallet to a computer, but currently only demonstrates the ability to listen to broadcasts, leading the public to mistakenly think it is an expensive radio.

Although the system involves progressive values such as data自主保管, decentralized digital identity (DID), and has potential applications in car rentals, job seeking, etc., these concepts are too abstract for most people.

Image source: Facebook screenshot

Xu Ming-en pointed out that the public usually cares about whether it is easy to use, and privacy protection is often just a “side dish” rather than the main reason for downloading the app.

“The Digital Certification Wallet needs to step out of its echo chamber and expand its application scenarios,” Xu Ming-en believes that the Digital Development Department still has many good cards, and in the future, integrating graduation certificates or digital driver’s licenses could make people realize this is a portable all-in-one credential bag, thereby understanding the digital sovereignty and rule design behind it.

Core Concept of the Digital Certification Wallet: Returning Data Control to Users

Huang Yanni (Huang Dou Ni), who previously worked as an cybersecurity system engineer at the Digital Development Department, revealed the design philosophy of the Digital Certification Wallet in an interview with tech media “Inside”:

The concept of the Digital Certification Wallet is similar to a blockchain wallet, allowing users to have their own “private key,” enabling them to independently receive and control certificates issued by the government or private entities, rather than entrusting all data to a single organization.

Although the initial application scenarios of the Digital Certification Wallet are limited, its long-term goal is to establish a foundational infrastructure that returns data control to users.

What are the challenges in promoting digital wallets in Taiwan? Considerations of multiple stakeholders

Huang Yanni also frankly stated that the biggest difficulty in promoting the Digital Certification Wallet in Taiwan is “considering multiple stakeholders.”

From government departments to private sector operators, each role has different needs. For example, when promoting online alcohol purchase verification, it must consider parental concerns, platform regulations, and consumer convenience simultaneously. Coordinating across agencies and industries is often more difficult than technical development.