A system and method for direct authentication and/or authorization of transactions. The system includes a trusted Digital Identity (DID) Network connecting an Originating Participating Financial Institution (OPFI) and a Receiving Participating Financial Institution (RPFI) through a DID Operator. The DID Operator may further be coupled to a DID System that calculates digital identities for Originators. According to the method, direct authentication of the Originator and/or authorization of the transaction is initiated upon the Originator communicating its digital identity to the Receiver. The Receiver subsequently provides the digital identity to the RPFI. The RPFI is then able to communicate with the OPFI for authentication of the Originator and/or authorization of the transaction through the DID Operator based on Originator's digital identity. The transaction between the Originator and Receiver can be financial or non-financial and may include, for example, account-to-account transfers, identity authentication or express agreements. In another embodiment, authentication and/or authorization may be performed in real time.