The OpenWallet Foundation would like to welcome Dr Roman Zoun, Head of Wallet / Self-Sovereign Identity at Swisscom to our Governing Board!
Dr. Roman Zoun has been part of Swisscom since 2024, where he leads the “Digital Wallet” value stream. With a solid background in identity and access management, information security, and artificial intelligence, Roman brings extensive experience from various sectors. His expertise in Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) and deep understanding of both EU and Swiss data protection regulations make him a valuable asset to the board.
Before joining Swisscom, Roman served as Head of Innovation in Cybersecurity, where he played a key role in shaping the technical and go-to-market strategies for security products. Roman earned his PhD in Computer Science from the University of Magdeburg, focusing on mass spectrometry and cloud computing. His academic achievements, combined with his ability to align technology with business objectives, highlight his passion for driving innovation in the digital space.
Why have you joined the OpenWallet Foundation Board?
I joined the OpenWallet Foundation Board because I believe digital wallets will be key for secure and user-friendly digital identities and financial services in the future. The foundation’s goal of building an open-source wallet system fits with my interest. By being part of this, I want to help build a future where people have more control over their own data and transactions. Also, having an open-source community removes barriers and helps get more participants involved.
Why do you think digital wallets are important?
Trust in governments and banks is decreasing, and the future will be less controlled by big institutions and more user-driven. When users are the focus, they’ll want to keep services close and accessible. A user with a wallet can take part in a full digital journey, putting them in charge of their own data and interactions.
What are your goals for the OpenWallet Foundation?
One big challenge is that many people are stuck in old ways of thinking, using proprietary solutions or have problems choosing the right one. My goal is to make it easy for everyone to start using digital wallets from “single source of truth” without being tied to specific systems, moving towards an open and collaborative ecosystem.
Considering the current state of the digital wallets, what is the biggest challenge facing this space today?
The biggest challenge is the technical barriers and the competition with existing apps. For example, as long as banks push their own apps, wallets are seen as competition, and services aren’t provided in them. Without global standards, and with regional wallets dominating, it’s hard for companies to achieve interoperability worldwide. Organizations would tackle these challenges right away if wallet adoption increased to the point where it couldn’t be ignored. However, it would be more beneficial if wallet adoption were pushed from all sides, so businesses could start learning early how to become a part of this growing ecosystem.
What is the biggest misconception around digital wallets that the OWF community can work to address?
People often associate wallets with Web3 and crypto payments. There are also concerns about wallets giving governments too much control, leading to fears of surveillance or censorship.
What is one thing a reader of this post can do to get more involved?
The real benefit of wallets is that they increase the value of data of an individual. Ask yourself: if your customers always provided verified information, so cannot lie, how could your organization benefit? —through better efficiency, lower risks, or even higher revenue? And what if you didn’t need to build complex data connections with other organizations because your customer is the interface? You could be part of this wallet trust system, and the OpenWallet Foundation gives you the tools and community support to quickly test and implement your value proposition.
Where can our community find you / your work / your thoughts on the industry?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/roman-zoun/
The OpenWallet Foundation is thrilled that Dr. Zoun has joined the Governing Board and is bringing his considerable experience and knowledge to the guidance of this organization.
If you would like to know more about OpenWallet Foundation, please check out:
Our Website: openwallet.foundation
Our Project GitHub: https://github.com/openwallet-foundation
Our Labs GitHub: https://github.com/openwallet-foundation-labs
Our Newsletter: https://openwallet.foundation/newsletter/
Our Discord: https://discord.com/invite/yjvGPd5FCU
Our Community Calendar: https://zoom-lfx.platform.linuxfoundation.org/meetings/openwalletfoundation
Our Special interest Groups: https://openwallet.foundation/participate/groups/
