They are not the same thing, and one does not replace the other. The EUDI Wallet is a state-issued or state-certified identity app created under eIDAS 2.0, Regulation (EU) 2024/1183, which entered into force on 20 May 2024. UIID is a self-owned identity you create yourself, in about thirty seconds, with no government involvement.
Why you will hear more about the wallet soon. Member States must issue at least one certified EUDI Wallet to citizens and residents who request one, with the deadline falling in 2026. Private relying parties in regulated sectors — banking, telecoms, transport, healthcare and large online platforms — must then accept it, with obligations extending into late 2027.
Where the two overlap technically. The EUDI Wallet is built on Verifiable Credentials and related specifications, which are the same W3C foundations UIID builds on. The concept of showing only the attribute a service actually needs — rather than handing over a whole document — is the same idea as using an alias instead of your Core ID.
What UIID does that the wallet does not. The wallet is designed to prove who you officially are. UIID is designed for everyday activity where you specifically do not want to be identified: unlimited anonymous aliases, badges that travel with you, and identities for AI agents, hardware nodes and digital services.
What the wallet does that UIID does not. It carries state-issued credentials with legal recognition across the EU, which no private identity system can grant itself.
The practical answer for most people: you will likely end up with both, used for different things. If your organization is planning identity work against eIDAS 2.0, start the conversation early — write to [email protected].