Sovrin Foundation

What Sovrin Foundation does

Sovrin Foundation was a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization established in 2017 and headquartered at 86 N University Ave, Suite 110, Provo, Utah. It administered the Governance Framework for the Sovrin Network, a public, permissioned distributed ledger built on Hyperledger Indy that enabled self-sovereign identity (SSI) on the internet. The network used the Plenum RBFT consensus algorithm and supported zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) for selective disclosure of verifiable credentials, allowing identity holders to prove attributes (age, membership, etc.) without revealing underlying data. Sovrin served governments, financial institutions, NGOs/humanitarian organizations, healthcare providers, enterprises, and developers across 6 continents, with 80+ Steward organizations operating validator nodes.

The Foundation's business model was donation- and membership-driven (Donor and Premium Donor tiers), supplemented by transaction fees on ledger writes collected via an invoice/billing system and by a volunteer-heavy operating model. Distribution was open-source via Hyperledger (Aries, Indy, Ursa projects), with a self-serve token testing portal (Selfserve.sovrin.org) for developers. Notable flagship partners and Stewards included IBM, Cisco, Deutsche Telekom, Absa Group, Evernym, Medici Ventures (Overstock.com), Desert Financial Credit Union, ATB Financial, and government deployments such as the Government of British Columbia. Sovrin also participated in standards bodies including W3C, DIF, ToIP, and the EU Blockchain Association, and ran the Self-Sovereign Identity Incubator program.

Following an extended period of reduced activity and inability to sustain its mission, the Sovrin Foundation was dissolved by the State of Utah on May 21, 2025. The Sovrin MainNet ledger is now maintained in read-only mode by Trinsic as sole Steward and Caretaker. The Foundation's intellectual property, governance framework, and ecosystem contributions remain as historical artifacts and as inputs to successor initiatives within the broader Hyperledger and Trust over IP communities.

Name

Sovrin Foundation

Legal name

Sovrin Foundation

Website

https://sovrin.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sovrin Foundation was a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that administered the Sovrin Network, a permissioned distributed ledger built on Hyperledger Indy enabling self-sovereign identity. It served governments, financial institutions, NGOs, and developers globally before its dissolution on May 21, 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Decentralized Identity Infrastructure

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Decentralized Identity (DID) & Verifiable Credentials (BPAMAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Decentralized Identity & Verifiable Credentials for Finance (DID/KYC Reuse) (FSAGAMAE), Single Sign-On (SSO) & Federation (BPAMAEAF)

Keywords

• Decentralized identity
• Self-sovereign identity
• Verifiable credentials
• Distributed ledger identity
• Digital identity infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Salt Lake City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership Fees: Sovrin Foundation was funded primarily through financial donations from organizations and individuals. Membership was offered at various tiers (Donor, Premium Donor), providing governance participation and influence in exchange for financial contributions.
2. Transaction Fees (Ledger Writes): Fees charged for writes to the Sovrin ledger (e.g., credential definitions, schemas). An invoice and billing system was used to collect fees, which was a key revenue stream before the Foundation's dissolution. A Sovrin Token was launched for public testing to eventually replace third-party payment processing.
3. Volunteer Contributions: The Foundation relied heavily on volunteers for governance, technical, and operational work. Board members and working group participants contributed time without compensation, reducing operational costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Sovrin Foundation administered the Sovrin Network, a public service utility enabling self-sovereign identity (SSI) using distributed ledger technology built on Hyperledger Indy. The foundation stewarded validator nodes through a Steward program, maintained a public Governance Framework, operated multiple test and production networks, and provided identity infrastructure for governments, enterprises, financial institutions, NGOs, and individuals.

Product overview

The Sovrin Foundation administered a decentralized identity network ecosystem consisting of the Sovrin Network (a global public utility for self-sovereign identity), multiple ledger environments (MainNet for production, TestNet/BuilderNet/StagingNet for testing), and the governance framework governing all network participants. The network enabled self-sovereign identity through Zero Knowledge Proofs for selective disclosure, allowing identity holders to control and share their credentials. The Foundation also supported ecosystem growth through the Self-Sovereign Identity Incubator program. Following the Foundation's dissolution in May 2025, MainNet remains as a read-only archive.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sovrin Network A public service utility for self-sovereign identity (SSI) built on the Hyperledger Indy distributed ledger, providing decentralized identifiers, verifiable credentials, and zero-knowledge proof selective disclosure for organizations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals.
• Sovrin Governance Framework A formalized set of charters, policies, and procedures governing the operation of the Sovrin Network, including Steward onboarding, working group charters, and utility administration. Used by Stewards, contributors, and observers of the Sovrin Network.
• Sovrin MainNet The production network of the Sovrin Foundation, providing live self-sovereign identity services and supporting the issuance and verification of verifiable credentials.
• Sovrin TestNet / BuilderNet / StagingNet Pre-production networks providing development, integration, and staging environments for builders working on Sovrin identity applications.
• Sovrin Test Token A public test token issued by the Sovrin Foundation on the Sovrin Network, enabling developers and members to transact and test network operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Millions of end-users were using Sovrin's network with several in-market solutions available by February 2020.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• TrinsiccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 January 2025Following the Sovrin Foundation's dissolution, Trinsic agreed to act as the Caretaker of Sovrin MainNet. Trinsic is now the sole Steward operating the nodes of the Sovrin MainNet, hosting the ledger on a single virtual cloud server in read-only configuration. Trinsic and the previous Trustees continue to hold MainNet Trustee keys.
• Trust over IP (ToIP) FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2020Sovrin Foundation and the Trust over IP Foundation signed a mutual agreement to strengthen SSI collaboration. The ToIP Foundation was created in May 2020 with Sovrin Foundation as a founding member, aimed at building a trustworthy internet for all through layered trust architecture.
• Networks SynergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2020Networks Synergy, a leading research group in Kazakhstan working in IT and electrophysics, became the first Sovrin Steward from Kazakhstan, expanding the global reach of the network. The company is implementing Sovrin-based solutions for cargo transportation logistics for railway companies.
• Hyperledger (Aries, Indy, Ursa)flagshipTechnology or Integration · 13 February 2020Sovrin Foundation supports developers around the world in the Hyperledger Aries, Indy, and Ursa projects. These open-source projects provide the foundational code for Sovrin's identity metasystem. Sovrin operates on code produced by Hyperledger Indy.
• Medici Ventures (Overstock.com)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 January 2020Medici Ventures, the wholly-owned blockchain accelerator of Overstock.com (NASDAQ:OSTK), became a Sovrin Steward and Donor. It is the first blockchain accelerator to be a Sovrin Steward, focusing on advancing blockchain technology with identity as a core area.
• Vibranium IDcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 January 2020Vibranium ID, based in Kenya, became the first Sovrin Steward in Kenya and Eastern Africa. It provides portable identity for African-based companies and built Kweli, the first Pan-African SSI solution built on the African Digital Asset Framework.
• FinClusivecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2019FinClusive is a hybrid financial services platform integrating traditional banking with blockchain. As a Sovrin Steward, it leads the Compliance and Payments Task Force developing governance for digital value exchange on the network, combining risk and regulatory safeguards for secure payments.
• PrivKey LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2019PrivKey provides support for self-sovereign identity solutions through the Sovrin Network, with a focus on residential smart communities. It provides secure, verifiable digital identity for residents and property community managers.
• RIDDLE&CODEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2019RIDDLE&CODE is Europe's leading blockchain interface company, focusing on machine identity. As a Sovrin Steward, it integrates SSI and DIDs into its solutions for enterprises across industry sectors, giving identity to everyday objects and machines.
• World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)flagshipTechnology or Integration · 27 September 2019Sovrin Foundation participated in W3C Verifiable Claims Working Group and Credentials Community Group, contributing to standards for decentralized identifiers (DIDs) and verifiable credentials. Sovrin was designed to support W3C DID standards.
• Decentralized Identity Foundation (DIF)coreTechnology or Integration · 27 September 2019Sovrin Foundation participated in DIF working groups including the DIDComm Working Group, contributing to the evolution of DIDComm protocols and decentralized identity standards alongside W3C.
• EU Blockchain AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2019Sovrin Foundation joined the EU Blockchain Association as a founding member, contributing to European blockchain policy and digital identity standards at the regulatory level.
• EvernymflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2018Evernym collaborated with Sovrin and Ontology on interoperability between decentralized identity networks. Evernym is closely integrated with Sovrin and is known for 'writing the book' on self-sovereign identity conceptual underpinnings. It participated in collaborative efforts including Job-Creds with IBM and ATB Financial.
• OntologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2018Ontology collaborated with Sovrin and Evernym on interoperability between decentralized identity networks, enabling cross-network identity verification and expanding the SSI ecosystem globally.
• CiscoflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2018Cisco is among the founding Sovrin Stewards, operating validator nodes and contributing to network governance. Cisco's participation reflects its commitment to corporate data responsibility and decentralized identity infrastructure.
• Deutsche TelekomflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2018Deutsche Telekom is among the founding Sovrin Stewards, operating validator nodes of the Sovrin Network and contributing to network governance as part of its commitment to digital identity standards.
• ATB FinancialcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2018ATB Financial, a Canadian bank, participated in the Job-Creds project with Evernym and IBM on the Sovrin Network to eliminate password-based authentication using verifiable credentials.
• IBMflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2018IBM is among the world's largest contributors to open blockchain development and is a Sovrin Steward. IBM is architecting highly available validator node solutions and driving adoption through client incubation and education. IBM has committed to decentralized identity and sees data stewardship as paramount for AI-driven workflows.
• Absa GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 September 2018Absa Group, one of Africa's largest diversified financial services groups operating in 12 countries with over 42,000 employees, is a Founding Steward of Sovrin and the first African bank to join. Absa helps create, operate, and maintain a node for Sovrin's decentralized digital identity network, extending financial inclusion.
• CertisigncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 August 2018Certisign, a Brazilian digital certificate authority, is the first Sovrin Steward from South America. It brings PKI expertise and digital certificate solutions to the network, advancing self-sovereign identity in Latin America.
• ID2020 AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017ID2020 Alliance awarded iRespond (a Sovrin Steward) a pilot project for blockchain-based digital identification linked to iris recognition. The Sovrin blockchain provided the infrastructure for the pilot at Mae La refugee camp in Thailand.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Decentralized Identity Foundation (DIF): DIF is an engineering-driven standards organization creating foundational specifications for decentralized identity (DIDComm, Sidetree). Sovrin Foundation participated in DIF working groups, making DIF an ecosystem enabler and adjacent standards body rather than a competitor.
• Hyperledger Foundation: Hyperledger hosts the Indy, Aries, and Ursa projects that form Sovrin's technical foundation. As an ecosystem steward rather than competitor, Hyperledger's governance over these projects shapes the long-term viability of Sovrin-derived deployments.

Broad incumbents

• ID.me: ID.me is a broader identity verification and digital identity platform serving government, healthcare, and financial services with strong KYC/fraud-prevention focus. While not decentralized, it competes for many of the same financial inclusion and government citizen-identity use cases Sovrin pursued.
• Microsoft Entra Verified ID: Microsoft's Entra Verified ID is a broad incumbent offering decentralized identity and verifiable credentials as part of its enterprise identity portfolio. It competes for the same enterprise and workforce identity use cases Sovrin targeted (e.g., passwordless authentication, employee credentials).

Direct peers

• GATACA: GATACA is a decentralized identity company focused on SSI and verifiable credentials for enterprise and government use cases, directly comparable to Sovrin's enterprise KYC, citizen ID, and credential issuance offerings.
• Evernym: Evernym was the closest collaborator of Sovrin Foundation, co-developing the conceptual underpinnings of SSI and contributing to Hyperledger Indy/Aries/Ursa. Evernym participated in flagship pilots (e.g., Job-Creds with IBM and ATB Financial) and was described by OWI as 'closely integrated' with Sovrin.
• Danube Tech: Danube Tech builds enterprise SSI solutions based on the W3C Verifiable Credentials and DID standards that Sovrin helped pioneer. It contributes to the same open-source ecosystem (Hyperledger Aries) and serves comparable enterprise and government customers.
• Indicio: Indico is a decentralized identity company providing verifiable credential infrastructure built on Hyperledger Indy/Aries, the same codebase as Sovrin. It serves government, travel, and humanitarian use cases directly comparable to Sovrin's segments.
• Dock Labs: Dock Labs offers a decentralized digital identity and verifiable credentials platform, positioning itself as a commercial alternative to open-source SSI networks like Sovrin, with focus on enterprise issuance and verification.
• Trinsic: Trinsic is a direct peer in the self-sovereign identity and verifiable credentials space, offering an SSI platform for issuing, holding, and verifying credentials. Trinsic is now the sole Steward and caretaker of Sovrin MainNet following the Foundation's dissolution, making it the operational successor.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sovrinid
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sovrin-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Sovrin Foundation