The Democratic Republic of Congo has finalized a major tech partnership that will bring digital identification to its 80 million citizens. Singapore-based Trident Digital Tech Holdings signed the final agreement to deploy DRCPass, a national digital ID system that promises to transform how Congolese access everything from government services to mobile banking.
The deal marks one of Africa’s largest digital identity projects. Congo’s government will work exclusively with the Nasdaq-listed company to roll out Web 3.0 technology across the Central African nation. Citizens will soon be able to manage their entire digital identity through a single smartphone app called Tridentity.
Trident CEO Soon Huat Lim said his team has spent months preparing for this launch. “We commend the Republic’s leadership for embracing a digital future and look forward to supporting a nationwide rollout that others in Africa will surely emulate,” he stated during the signing ceremony with Congo’s Telecommunications Minister Augustin Kibassa Maliba.
The system will tackle four major areas that have plagued Congo’s digital infrastructure. First, it will link SIM cards to verified citizen records using blockchain technology, eliminating fake phone lines that cost telecom operators millions in fraud losses. Second, citizens can access government and business websites with a single login instead of juggling multiple passwords and accounts.
The platform also enables instant digital payments by automatically checking user credentials and credit scores. This could bring formal banking services to millions of Congolese who currently rely on cash transactions. Finally, the system creates a secure digital identity that works alongside physical ID cards for both government and private sector transactions.
Getting started requires downloading the Tridentity mobile app after registering for a national ID. The app uses secure single-sign-on technology to access authorized websites and services. Congo plans to roll out the system in phases alongside a public education campaign to help citizens understand the new technology.
Minister Maliba called the partnership “more than just a contract” but rather “a defining chapter in the digital rebirth of our nation.” He emphasized that Congo aims to become “digitally sovereign, financially inclusive, and resilient to tomorrow’s challenges.”
The timing aligns with Congo’s growing mobile connectivity. GSMA Intelligence reports the country has over 80 million mobile subscribers with an expanding number of people using formal banking services. This large mobile-first population provides a ready foundation for digital identity adoption.
Trident specializes in blockchain-based identity platforms designed for secure authentication across different industries. The company focuses on Web 3.0 technology and has targeted Southern Africa and other high-growth markets for expansion. Its flagship Tridentity platform delivers the core technology behind Congo’s new system.
The project builds on a collaboration framework established in December 2024 between Trident and Congo’s presidential office. That initial agreement laid groundwork for broader e-government and digital identity initiatives across the country.
Other African nations are watching Congo’s digital transformation closely. The scale and scope of DRCPass could serve as a model for similar projects across the continent, where many countries still rely on paper-based identity systems that limit access to digital services.
The partnership also comes as Trident pursues ambitious cryptocurrency investments. The company recently announced plans to acquire $500 million worth of XRP tokens as strategic reserves, positioning itself as one of the first major corporations to hold significant cryptocurrency treasury assets.
For Congo’s 80 million citizens, the immediate impact will be simpler access to essential services. Instead of visiting multiple government offices or bank branches, people can complete transactions digitally through verified identity credentials. This shift could particularly benefit rural populations who face long travel times to access traditional services.
The phased rollout means the system will expand gradually across Congo’s vast territory. This approach allows for testing and refinement while building public trust in the new technology. Success in Congo could accelerate similar digital identity projects across Africa, where many governments are exploring modernization of citizen services.
