Non-profit group the Open Identity Exchange (OIX) has disbanded.
OIX said “a substantial number” of OIX members didn’t renew their memberships in the first half of 2024. OIX said its decreasing budget has meant it is unable to serve the needs of members.
“The feedback from leaving members has been that OIX’s work is extremely valuable and it is playing a positive role in the progress of digital ID. However, current focus on other priorities and tightening of budgets has meant that many members have not been able to justify renewing their membership of trade bodies, and sadly OIX has been impacted,” said the organisation in an email to members.
OIX said its focus on the technical requirements for interoperability required to make digital ID wallets a success isn’t shared by many in the industry. This has led to a number of large members not renewing their memberships.
“Whilst new members are still joining OIX, they have not been doing so at a sufficient rate to offset the large members who have been unable to renew, leaving OIX with financial reserves that will become exhausted by the end of September,” it said.
OIX said it has considered several strategies to further control costs and reshape OIX, but concluded that reducing its services is likely to lead to more members leaving.
Therefore, it said it has “reluctantly” wound up operations as of August 31.
“This is very sad news for OIX members and the OIX team, and it will leave a crucial gap in the market with regards to the policy interoperability elements that will really move digital ID forward at pace,” it said.
The OIX library and most recent working group materials will be made available to members via a free secure repository.
“There is still a lot of work to do to achieve our vision of having a reusable trusted ID that can be used anywhere around the globe; we trust other organisations with similar visions will continue to strive to achieve our vision,” it added.
