Definition
A verifiable digital credential is a tamper-evident digital version of an ID or certificate (like a driver's license) that can be shown to prove a fact about its holder without needing to call back the original issuer every time. Standards bodies see this technology as a building block for proving the identity of AI agents and the people or systems directing them.
Why it matters
As companies deploy AI agents that need to authenticate to other systems, VDC-style credentials are emerging as the trusted 'ID card' mechanism regulators and standards bodies expect for zero-trust AI agent access.