- Founded
- 2018-01-01 in Madrid, Spain (also associated with MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA)
- Headquarters
- Madrid, Spain
Gataca is a Madrid-based cybersecurity company that specializes in decentralized digital identity technology. Founded in 2017 as a research project at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and formally incorporated in 2018, Gataca provides a platform that enables organizations to issue, verify, and manage digital credentials stored in user-controlled ID wallets. The company's core mission is to replace friction-prone, fraud-vulnerable identity verification processes with a privacy-preserving, real-time intelligence layer. By leveraging open standards such as W3C Verifiable Credentials and ISO mDL, Gataca supports interoperability with the 27 EUDI (European Digital Identity) Wallets and any wallet adhering to global standards. The company serves governments, financial institutions, media companies, and critically, the iGaming industry, where it automates age verification, KYC, and fraud prevention. Gataca is bootstrapped and reported an estimated $1.3 million in annual recurring revenue as of October 2024, with a team of approximately 10 employees. The company has been certified to the ISO standard for age assurance and has processed over 750,000 wallet transactions in 2025 across eight countries. Its flagship products — Studio, Vouch, Gataca App, and Enterprise Wallet — are designed to help regulated organizations stay compliant while converting more users with one-tap, reusable digital credentials.
Detailed Review
Company History
Gataca was born from a clear market gap: traditional identity verification creates friction for users while exposing businesses to fraud. CEO and co-founder Irene Hernández, who led the initial MIT research, built a platform that flips the model — instead of requiring repeated document uploads, Gataca allows users to store verified credentials in a digital wallet and share them with a single click. The platform’s "identity intelligence layer" goes beyond simple issuance and verification by analyzing identity signals in real time and assigning trust scores. This enables adaptive authentication where low-risk users glide through while suspicious activity triggers additional checks.
Products
Gataca's product suite addresses the full lifecycle of digital identity. Gataca Studio is a low-code portal for credential issuance and verification, automating compliance with KYC, age verification, and data protection regulations. Vouch provides Single Sign-On authentication using digital wallets. The Gataca App is a consumer-facing digital ID wallet, while the Enterprise Wallet offers similar functionality for organizations. All products are built on strong encryption (AES‑CBC, x25519, ECDH, RSA), biometric and multi-factor authentication, and support for advanced cryptographic algorithms. The company has undergone regular audits and penetration testing, and private keys are stored in device secure elements.
Market Position and Recent Developments
The timing of Gataca's expansion is strategic. With the EU’s eIDAS 2.0 framework and new Anti-Money Laundering Regulation (AMLR) taking effect, demand for compliant, low-friction identity solutions has surged. Gataca has deployed at scale in eight countries and serves clients in public sector, banking, media, education, travel, and iGaming. In the iGaming vertical, the platform enables operators to verify player age and identity seamlessly while stopping AI-driven fraud — a critical capability as generative AI makes fake documents harder to detect. In mid-2026, Gataca raised an undisclosed amount of new funding (alongside German competitor Lissi) to further its market engagement and deepen its intelligence layer. The company remains bootstrapped and founder-led, with no venture capital dilutions reported. Gataca is certified to the ISO standard for age assurance and has processed over 750,000 wallet transactions in 2025 across eight countries.
Key Products
Studio
Low-code platform for credential issuance and verification. Enables organizations to issue verifiable credentials, validate credentials from ID wallets, and interpret identity signals in a single interface. Automates compliance with KYC, age verification, and data protection laws.
Vouch
Single Sign-On (SSO) authentication solution that lets users log into services using their digital ID wallet instead of passwords. Replaces repeated data uploads with one-click identity sharing.
Gataca App
Consumer-facing digital ID wallet for iOS/Android. Users store government-issued IDs, educational credentials, loyalty cards, etc., and share them selectively with requesting parties.
Enterprise Wallet
An ID wallet designed for organizations (e.g., corporations, government agencies) to manage employee or citizen credentials internally. Supports issuance, verification, and revocation of credentials.
Identity Intelligence Layer
A real-time trust-scoring engine that adapts verification requirements based on risk. Uses signals from digital credentials and contextual data to apply additional checks on suspicious users while allowing legitimate users to pass friction-free.
Offices & Headcount
10 employees (approx.)
Key Persons
- Irene Hernández
Speaker