23 June 2026 – EMVCo – the technical body that creates and manages EMV® Specifications and programmes – has released a draft framework to support the interoperable use of verifiable digital credentials for card-based payment authentication. All interested stakeholders are encouraged to provide their feedback on the EMV Digital Payment Credential Specification – Schema Framework by 23 July 2026.
EMVCo is initially focusing on providing a framework for defining the data that a Digital Payment Credential (DPC) contains and how it is structured – known as a ‘schema’ – to support secure, privacy-preserving and scalable authentication for card-based payments. Looking ahead, EMVCo is also investigating functionality to support payment initiation.
DPCs are a form of verifiable digital credential (VDC), which are gaining traction across digital identity ecosystems to promote security, privacy and convenience. VDCs are digital representations of the physical credentials used in everyday life, such as an identity card, driver’s license, diploma, or proof of age. Commonly held and secured in a digital wallet on a smartphone, they can be presented in-person or online and verified cryptographically.[1]
The data elements and data structure of VDCs vary depending on the specific use case – which shapes how information is stored, shared and verified. While this has advantages, it raises the risk of fragmentation if different approaches are taken for the same use-case. This is why EMVCo is using its proven experience developing global specifications to define a DPC that represents a payment card-specific application of VDCs.
The DPC initiative aims to establish a common, interoperable way of using VDCs in online card-based payment scenarios. It is intended to address all card payment authentication requirements, as well as device binding, cross-domain usage and dynamic linking. This can help enable consistent processes for credential provisioning, request and verification across different payment networks, wallets and verification systems, while supporting privacy controls.
EMVCo’s work in this area is led by its dedicated Digital Identity and Payments Task Force, which is engaging with the hundreds of industry stakeholders that participate as EMVCo Associates and Subscribers. EMVCo is also collaborating closely with various industry partners and technical bodies, including FIDO Alliance, OpenID Foundation, OpenWallet Foundation, W3C and WE BUILD Consortium.
Patrik Smets, EMVCo Executive Committee Chair, comments: “Emerging digital identity technologies have the potential to promote more trusted and convenient card-based payments for consumers and businesses, but realising these benefits at scale requires global interoperability. That is why we are engaging across the industry and encouraging all stakeholders to share their feedback to help develop a consistent and secure approach for using VDCs in card-based payment authentication.”
Following review from EMVCo Associates, the draft EMV Digital Payment Credential Specification – Schema Framework is available for initial public review until 23 July 2026. As work progresses, all interested stakeholders are invited to explore ways to participate in EMVCo and share input on the strategic considerations and technical advances shaping digital identity and payments.
[1] NIST, Digital Identities: Getting to Know the Verifiable Digital Credential Ecosystem, November 2024
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For further EMVCo media information please contact David Amos / Alice Fairless– Tel: +44 113 3501922 or email: david@iseepr.co.uk / alice@iseepr.co.uk
