Verifiable Digital Credentials are at a critical inflection point. The technology is maturing, the standards are progressing, and international organizations are increasingly looking to the technology as a means to provide more effective and secure access to critical services. Yet, scaled adoption - particularly in online scenarios - remains just out of reach. In 2023, NIST launched a project in their National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) to not only assist in the advancement of the technology and standards supporting Verifiable Digital Credentials but also explore the opportunities and challenges related to relying party adoption. This project has reached the conclusion of its initial phase, which focused on enabling financial institutions to adopt Mobile Drivers Licences (a specific typeof Verifiable Digital Credentials) for identity verification. In this presentation, the poject leads Bill Fisher and Ryan Galluzzo will bring attendees along on the Verifiable Digital Credential journey that has unfolded over the course of the project. From inception to conclusion, the presentation will explore key lessons, challenges, and opportunities identified with a team of over 20 project collaborators including: major United States banks, critical technology providers, states, federal agenceis, and organizations creating the technical framework and standards that wills serve as the foundation of the Verifiable Digital Credential ecosystem.