Solana users can now mint digital IDs for the Republic of Palau for $248, as part of the nation’s partnership with decentralized identity protocol RNS.ID.
Announced via the official RNS.ID Twitter account, this initiative marks the first time a sovereign nation has issued legal identity on the Solana blockchain. Palau’s digital residency program, launched in 2022, allows global citizens to obtain residency without needing to physically reside in the country. The first Legal DID (decentralized ID) was minted in September 2023 on Ethereum, with Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin in attendance.
The RNS.ID platform enables users to apply for a Palau digital residence card for $248. These digital residencies provide visa extensions up to 180 days and anonymity for individuals using cryptocurrency exchanges that might otherwise be inaccessible due to their location.
George Harrap, co-founder of Step Finance, commented, “It’s exciting to see Palau using Solana now for their IDs. From the documentary we did on the ID system they’re building, we could see they had the right ideas at the right time and were getting some market traction. I expect that to continue now with this new initiative.”
The Palau government enforces stringent vetting on all applicants, including anti-money laundering and identity verification checks, which can take up to 10 days. Since September 2023, RNS.ID has issued 7,338 digital residencies, reflecting growing adoption of this innovative program.