IOTA Identity v1.6 Beta is out and adds improved DID Communications for users’ safety. Launched at the East Africa Web3 Summit, it highlighted IOTA’s role in trade and supply chain transformation. IOTA has introduced a significant upgrade with its Identity v1.6 Beta rollout, aiming to improve how people and businesses manage digital identities. The announcement was made on May 30, 2025, during the East Africa Web3 Innovation Summit in Nairobi. The update positions IOTA as a key player in real-world blockchain use with new security, speed, and privacy features. Identity v1.6 Beta Pushes Digital Trust to New Level The release of Identity v1.6 Beta marks a turning point for digital identity solutions. The update is built on IOTA’s MoveVM, a robust framework aligned with W3C standards. This new update adds to the project milestones IOTA recently announced. Image Source: IOTA on X In a recent update, we announced that the IOTA Foundation, World Economic Forum (WEF), and four other entities had joined hands to launch the TWIN Foundation to set best practices and standards for global trade. Notably, the release of Identity v1.6 Beta will make it easier for developers and users to work across platforms without facing compatibility issues. One standout feature is the improved support for DID Communications messages. This function allows two parties to send and verify data securely, reducing the chances of fraud or error. It is not entirely new, but this release refined the performance. Another key update comes from IOTA’s ongoing work with the LINKS Foundation. They are working to add Zero Knowledge Proof specifications. This tool will help users prove themselves or share key facts without revealing personal or sensitive data. This kind of selective disclosure adds an extra layer of privacy, essential in healthcare, trade, and logistics. These industries depend heavily on data integrity and trust. While the update includes work previously done in 2022, such as the account feature in Rust, developers are still waiting on JavaScript bindings. IOTA has cited design-related challenges as the reason for this delay. Still, the organization has clarified that JavaScript support is in progress. It is worth noting that we recently covered how the IOTA Foundation is urging a balanced approach to innovation and regulation in Web3. This comes in response to Australia’s proposed reforms to Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF) laws. These laws aim to modernize outdated rules for the digital era. Summit Highlights Real-World Use Cases in East Africa The Identity v1.6 Beta announcement took center stage at the IOTA East Africa Web3 Innovation Summit in Nairobi. The summit focused on how decentralized tools can support economic growth and sustainability in the region. Live demonstrations of IOTA’s TLIP system were shown, with CIO Africa and other partners sharing updates on social media. TLIP enables real-time trade data sharing and is free from delays and tampering. IOTA also used the summit to show how digital identity plays a role in broader plans like tokenization and digital twins in supply chains. Developers at the event received access to resources and tools, encouraging them to build new applications using the upgraded identity system. In addition, earlier this week, CNF reported that IOTA is launching a hackathon event in Malaysia in July as part of several other initiatives on its roadmap. This is to intensify its advancement of its mission as Web3’s Trust Layer.