SpruceID Founder and CEO Wayne Chang outlined how user-controlled digital wallets could help modernize public services by allowing people to securely carry and reuse verified information such as identity, residency, income, and eligibility across agencies. Instead of repeatedly submitting paperwork, residents could share trusted digital credentials when applying for benefits or other services.

Presented at the Forum on Emerging Technologies and Government Modernization on December 4, 2025, the 10-minute lightning talk highlights how this approach could reduce administrative burden, improve privacy, and help prevent fraud by replacing document uploads with cryptographically verifiable credentials. Chang also emphasizes the importance of open standards, interoperability, and greater control for residents over how their personal data is shared.

Watch the talk below: