Strategic Alignment and Ecosystem Innovation: Integrating the European Digital Identity Wallet into the Financial Sector
Year: 2026
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 established the European Digital Identity Framework in May 2024,placing a mandatory obligation on financial service providers to accept the European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet) by late 2027. Financial institutions face a compliance deadline but also a strategic question: which ecosystem roles should they occupy under the eIDAS 2.0 regulatory framework? This thesis examines what strategic opportunities and ecosystem roles the EUDI Wallet creates for financial institutions, what kind of barriers they face in wallet adoption, and which use cases carry the greatest potential for new digital wallet ecosystems. The study applies a qualitative and inductive research design based on twelve semi-structured expert interviews, which were analysed using the Gioia methodology, with participants ranging from the financial sector, public sector, technology companies, consulting firms, and an industry association. The empirical analysis produced four aggregate dimensions: Digital Identity as Trust Infrastructure, Strategic Opportunities and Ecosystem Value Creation, Adoption Dynamics and Organisational Transformation, and Ecosystem Governance and Regulatory Compliance. The central finding of this thesis is that the EUDI Wallet ecosystem is fundamentally a governance challenge rather than a technology problem. Financial institutions are well placed to take an active role in shaping it because of their existing trust, customer relationships, and regulatory expertise. Early adopters will help define how these ecosystems work, and they are better positioned for securing a competitive advantage.
Source: Theseus (Ammattikorkeakoulujen)
Author: Niskanen, Antti
Language: English
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7163466728