Enter Output World (IOG), the driving power behind the Cardano blockchain, has ceased the event of its formidable Atala Prism undertaking, an initiative that was beforehand supposed to rework academic and id administration programs in Ethiopia. The information, shared by way of the Midnight Discord and later confirmed via a number of inside sources, raises questions as no official assertion has been launched to date.
The Atala Prism undertaking aimed to leverage the Cardano blockchain to facilitate decentralized id options. The expertise was set to allow safe issuance, possession, and administration of digital identities utilizing Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) and Verifiable Credentials (VC). In October 2021, the undertaking gained substantial media consideration when IOG introduced a partnership with the Ethiopian authorities to deploy a blockchain-based nationwide pupil and instructor ID and attainment recording system.
The undertaking aimed to digitally confirm grades, monitor faculty efficiency remotely, and improve training and employment throughout the nation. It was supposed to create a tamper-proof report of academic efficiency for 5 million college students, 3,500 colleges, and 750,000 lecturers to establish and tackle areas of under-achievement and optimally allocate academic assets.
IOG Discontinues Cardano’s Atala Prism Mission
Nevertheless, current developments have seemingly dramatically shifted the undertaking’s trajectory. In response to a Discord message from a consumer recognized as johnny5i, the termination of the Atala undertaking was disclosed throughout a web based assembly. “IOG has simply gutted Hyperledger Identus. The Identus DID program is mainly lifeless within the water,” johnny5i reviews.
Additional exacerbating the scenario, a considerable variety of the Atala staff members, together with your entire product staff, have been laid off. “They’ve misplaced 25 individuals together with the platform engineering guys, Esteban, and Faye, the channel group outreach particular person,” johnny5i writes.
Regardless of the cessation of the Atala Prism initiative, IOG has acknowledged {that a} small contingent of the staff will transition to Enter Output Engineering (IOE) to take care of and additional develop the Hyperledger Identus Mission. Esteban, a former IOG engineer, revealed by way of Discord, “Sadly, nearly all of Atala, together with all members of the Product staff—Fay and myself included—have been let go. Nevertheless, IOG has expressed dedication to proceed the Hyperledger Identus Mission.”
He additional writes, “Concerning Atala merchandise and Atala business pursuits, it’s secure to imagine they won’t be developed. […] I additionally emphasize that any former IOG worker is free to resolve whether or not they want to stay engaged with Identus.”
Matt Ok, former CTO of Atala inside IOG, shared a heartfelt message along with his staff on Discord, reflecting on the tip of a major chapter and the influence on the staff: “It’s with a heavy coronary heart that I say goodbye to so many proficient and devoted colleagues […] I’m immensely pleased with the modern, self-sovereign id resolution we delivered to life, even within the face of challenges.”
He added, “To the few staff members remaining who will preserve Identus at IO, I want you the easiest in navigating this transition. I’ve little question that your expertise and willpower will proceed to propel Identus ahead.”
Notably, the shutdown of Atala Prism raises questions on the way forward for Cardano-based id options in areas like Ethiopia. “ As of as we speak, there are not any particulars about the way forward for the PRISM Sandbox; I assume, sooner or later, updates will probably be shared,” Esteban writes.
[UPDATE: 11:11 am GMT+2] Charles Hoskinson reacted by way of X: “That is only a reminder that prism grew to become Hyperledger Identus about 10 months in the past. It’s an Apache2 open supply framework for id purposes. IO Engineering maintains the core staff alongside group contributions, and merchandise like Midnight, RealFi, and Lace will use the framework for his or her id wants. This can be a frequent observe within the open core world and the way SSI ought to work. Id shouldn’t be the product. That makes you the product. Id ought to enhance the expertise of different merchandise.”
At press time, ADA traded at $0.40.
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