Cardano Developer IOG Axes
Atala Prism Project Once Slated
For Ethiopia
Cardano Developer IOG Axes Atala Prism Project Once Slated For Ethiopia
by Jake Simmons
3 hours ago
in Cardano
0
Input Output Global (IOG), the driving force behind the Cardano blockchain,
has ceased the development of its ambitious Atala Prism project, an initiative
that was previously intended to transform educational and identity management
systems in Ethiopia. The news, shared via the Midnight Discord and later
confirmed through multiple internal sources, raises questions as no official
statement has been released thus far.
The Atala Prism project aimed to leverage the Cardano blockchain to facilitate
decentralized identity solutions. The technology was set to enable secure
issuance, ownership, and management of digital identities using Decentralized
Identifiers (DIDs) and Verifiable Credentials (VC). In October 2021, the
project gained substantial media attention when IOG announced a partnership
with the Ethiopian government to deploy a blockchain-based national student
and teacher ID and attainment recording system.
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The project aimed to digitally verify grades, monitor school performance
remotely, and enhance education and employment across the nation. It was
intended to create a tamper-proof record of educational performance for five
million students, 3,500 schools, and 750,000 teachers to identify and address
areas of under-achievement and optimally allocate educational resources.
IOG Discontinues Cardano s Atala Prism Project
However, recent developments have seemingly dramatically shifted the
project s trajectory. According to a Discord message from a user
identified as johnny5i, the termination of the Atala project was disclosed
during an online meeting. IOG has just gutted Hyperledger Identus. The
Identus DID program is basically dead in the water, johnny5i reports.
Further exacerbating the situation, a substantial number of the Atala team
members, including the entire product team, have been laid off. They
have lost 25 people including the platform engineering guys, Esteban, and
Faye, the channel community outreach person,” johnny5i writes.
Despite the cessation of the Atala Prism initiative, IOG has stated that a
small contingent of the team will transition to Input Output Engineering (IOE)
to maintain and further develop the Hyperledger Identus Project. Esteban, a
former IOG engineer, revealed via Discord, Unfortunately, the majority
of Atala, including all members of the Product team—Fay and myself
included—have been let go. However, IOG has expressed commitment to continue
the Hyperledger Identus Project.
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He further writes, “Regarding Atala products and Atala commercial pursuits,
it s safe to assume they will not be developed. [ ] I also
emphasize that any former IOG employee is free to decide whether they wish to
remain engaged with Identus.”
Matt K, former CTO of Atala within IOG, shared a heartfelt message with his
team on Discord, reflecting on the end of a significant chapter and the impact
on the team: It s with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to so
many talented and dedicated colleagues [ ] I m immensely proud of
the innovative, self-sovereign identity solution we brought to life, even in
the face of challenges.
He added, “To the few team members remaining who will maintain Identus at IO,
I wish you the very best in navigating this transition. I have no doubt that
your talent and determination will continue to propel Identus forward.”
Notably, the shutdown of Atala Prism raises questions about the future of
Cardano-based identity solutions in regions like Ethiopia. “ As of today,
there are no details about the future of the PRISM Sandbox; I assume, at some
point, updates will be shared,” Esteban writes.
[UPDATE: 11:11 am GMT+2] Charles Hoskinson reacted via X: This is just
a reminder that prism became Hyperledger Identus about 10 months ago.
It s an Apache2 open source• Информационные технологии » Информационно-коммуникационные технологии » Информационные технологии и телекоммуникации » Программирование » Программное обеспечение » Свободное программное обеспечение » Открытое программное обеспечение
• Информационные технологии » Информатика » Программирование » Программное обеспечение » Свободное программное обеспечение » Открытое программное обеспечение
• Высокие технологии » Информационные технологии и телекоммуникации » Программирование » Программное обеспечение » Свободное программное обеспечение » Открытое программное обеспечение framework for identity applications. IO
Engineering maintains the core team alongside community contributions, and
products like Midnight, RealFi, and Lace will use the framework for their
identity needs. This is a common practice in the open core world and how SSI
should work. Identity should not be the product. That makes you the product.
Identity should improve the experience of other products.
At press time, ADA traded at $0.40. Cardano price rejected at the 0.236 FIb,
1-day chart | Source: ADAUSDT on TradingView.com
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