IBM (XETRA: IBM) and Hyperledger have signed on with the Decentralized Identity Foundation (DIF), a consortium formed earlier this year, in a bid to promote interoperability and standards for blockchain-based ID systems, CoinDesk reports.
IBM, which has also been working on a blockchain-based ID system with a consortium of banks in Canada, previously expressed support for the foundation's goal of creating standards but had not until now committed to participating.
"IBM joined DIF because we believe it will take open community and standards to achieve the vision of self-sovereign identity," IBM Vice President Jerry Cuomo said in a blog post.
Hyperledger, itself a consortium, has been doing similar work in the identity space through Project Indy, a partnership with fellow DIF member Sovrin Foundation.
The two enterprise blockchain heavyweights thus join a diverse group of organizations, including big corporates like Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Accenture (NYSE: ACN), startups such as Civic and Gem, as well as open-source projects like uPort and Sovrin.