Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF)
Financial ServicesBasel-stadt, Switzerland51-200 Employees
GLEIF is a Basel-based foundation operating a global cross-border identification system built around Legal Entity Identifiers. It maintains a centralized record of universal credentials verified by accredited issuers who operate in defined territories; these issuers confirm the original information for an applicant and assign region-specific codes, which are then logged in the GLEIF data bank to maintain a current, traceable chain of credentials. The approach relies on a root authentication and a globally recognized standardization framework to ensure trust across different jurisdictions, supporting a network of organizational identities that transcends borders. The system also underpins vLEIs, digital IDs secured at the source that are verifiable by software and devices in real time. By promoting transparency, the LEI framework helps individuals, businesses, and governments make safer decisions about partners, financing, or critical services such as vaccine administration. GLEIF emphasizes accessible, affordable standards and aims to keep its data bank free to access so that a broad range of markets and communities can benefit from universal credentials. In June 2026, GLEIF announced a collaboration with ISITC's Working Group to advance industry practices and data transparency.