Identity 2020 summit was held on May 20,2016 at United Nations Headquarters in New York addressed the world's Identity problems. It witnessed representatives from more than 50 technology businesses including reps from blockchain centric companies.

ID2020 summit’s main objective was to make sure that every human being has access to identity services, despite not having their state issued identification. According to the ID2020 website, “One fifth of the world's population is without legal identity. Without legal identification people are invisible to society and vulnerable to trafficking, prostitution, and child abuse."

During the summit, Jeff Garzik, core bitcoin developer and co-founder of Bloq discussed that, “It's possible to achieve identity for all by 2030.” Garzik was one of many representatives from blockchain focused companies. Also the summit saw a presentation on how the blockchain will represent the Internet of Value by Alex Tapscott who is the CEO of Northwest Passage Ventures and best-selling author of 'Blockchain Revolution'.

Complete presentation on ‘Blockchain Technology’ was presented by Jamie Smith, Global Chief Communications Officer of BitFury Group which makes blockchain hardware. Also presentation on ‘Blockchain use in the developing world’ was presented by Gabriel Abed, the CEO of Caribbean-based digital asset exchange Bitt.

Recognized entrepreneurs in the blockchain space like Vinny Lingham, the CEO of Civic technologies spoke in the summit regarding eliminating new account fraud and preventing online identity theft. Blythe Masters, former JP Morgan executive and present CEO of Digital Asset Holdings represented the best funded blockchain company in the room. He proposed plans to utilize private, permissioned blockchains.

Many solutions and presentations during the summit pointed out that, such important data should be in a global, public database of some kind, which is now possible. The ID2020 Annual Summit brings together industry leaders, NGOs, governments, emerging technology pioneers and cross-industry experts from both the public and private sector.