OMA3 Begins Review of Universal Manifest

The OMA3 Technical Working Group voted to consider Universal Manifest for standardization. This is the beginning of a formal process, not an endorsement.

What happened

At the April 30, 2026 OMA3 TWG meeting, members voted to bring Universal Manifest into the group’s review scope. This means the specification will be evaluated through OMA3’s standardization process, with its IP framework, governance structure, and industry participation model.

Context

Universal Manifest originated in the Metaverse Standards Forum’s Digital Assets Management Working Group and was developed independently. The specification has reached v0.3 with live implementations. OMA3 provides a formal home for the standardization work that independent development cannot: legal IP clarity, multi-stakeholder governance, and a recognized standards body imprimatur.

What this means

OMA3’s review process gives Universal Manifest a path to becoming a recognized industry standard. The architecture may evolve through the process. Working group members will review the specification, propose changes, and test assumptions against their own implementation needs.

What this does not mean: endorsement of the current specification as-is. The TWG review is a starting point. The specification will be challenged, questioned, and potentially restructured through the collaborative process.

UM’s position

Universal Manifest is a composition layer. It works alongside existing standards (DID, Verifiable Credentials, OID4VP, HPKE, mDL) rather than competing with them. The evaluation contract and selective disclosure model fill a gap that no existing standard addresses: a portable, bilateral exchange format with structured receipts.

Get involved

If you are working on digital identity, credentials, consent infrastructure, or interoperability and want to participate in the standardization process, the OMA3 TWG meets bimonthly. See the meeting schedule for dates and participation details.