That is an extension of my authentic tweet on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DreamerlyHQ/status/1586024999638470656
The Twitter model is brief and candy whereas this submit digs a bit deeper into the topic. When you take pleasure in this submit, please think about following our Twitter (@dreamerlyHQ) https://twitter.com/DreamerlyHQ (it actually motivates me to jot down extra cool and attention-grabbing stuff sooner or later, so thanks for following!)
Let’s dive in!
Why must you care about decentralized id?
An enormous a part of our fashionable life occurs on-line. As a consequence, you want an id to characterize you within the digital world. After we speak about id, significantly on-line id, what we consider is stuff like username, avatar, variety of followers, content material that you simply share on-line, or something that separates you from others. Such info is actually entries saved within the databases of Meta, Google, and Twitter.
And right here is the factor: you don’t personal it. Meta, Google, and Twitter do.
Now, most individuals already know that reality, however what’s so incorrect with not proudly owning your knowledge? In spite of everything, we’d like instruments to operate our every day lives, and people platforms nonetheless work okay (more often than not) for us. What to complain about?
Most likely nothing, aside from once we are banned from accessing the service (if in case you have ever been suspended on Reddit, welcome on board!), when their algorithms change in much less favor of our advantages, or when the platforms shut down (you suppose Fb will final your total lifetime?).
I do know, I’m being excessive. Most of us are simply common customers. We adjust to the principles, we aren’t bots, and we don’t do something that violates the coverage. However it’s also the truth that we’re simply common customers that make us really feel powerless once we don’t personal our knowledge. More often than not, we’re compliant customers, however on occasion, we could do unintentional issues that might by accident make these platforms suppose we’re dangerous. And since you’re a common person, this can be very tough to cope with the platform. It’s the threat of by accident getting harmed by the platform that makes proudly owning your knowledge an issue.
That’s simply the primary disagreeable factor about not proudly owning knowledge. After all, it’s only a risk, however the subsequent disagreeable factor isn’t a likelihood, it’s a positive factor: these platforms (and the third events) will use your knowledge to gasoline their providers. Now we have to consent to provide away our knowledge though we really don’t need to!
Subsequent comes the safety drawback. These person databases are so beneficial that they’ve turn into honeypots for hackers. At this level, I actually imagine that my knowledge has been leaked someplace, simply unsure the place. Keep in mind the Fb-Cambridge Analytica scandal? Million of customers have their knowledge leaked and the hacked knowledge is used to ship political promoting to the customers.
That’s not all. The database isn’t solely centralized however it’s also siloed by every community. Fb has a model of you, Twitter has one other, and Instagram has one other. Whereas it’s cool that I’ve a unique self on every of the platforms, I’m uninterested in rebuilding my profile and my fame many times. And if these platforms shut down or I get banned, I’ll lose all of the issues I’ve on that platform. (Truly, I can obtain my knowledge on Fb, however what can I do with it? Import such knowledge onto Twitter? Elon, can we do this but?)
Alright, sufficient for ranting. Time for an answer.
Enter Decentralized Id
What can we do to resolve these issues? Decentralized id is likely to be a superb reply.
So what’s decentralized id? Let’s have a high-level understanding of decentralized id earlier than we dive into the working mechanism of decentralized id underneath the hood.
The important thing distinction between web2 id and web3 id is centered round two issues: id possession and portability (one other phrase is interoperability).
Id possession is crucial trait of decentralized id. The phrase decentralized implies that the possession is dispersed from the centralized identities and is restored to customers’ fingers.
The second attention-grabbing trait of decentralized id is portability, which suggests you should utilize your id to entry totally different platforms seamlessly.
Now, let’s get underneath the hood of how Decentralized Identifiers (DID) works.
Presently, probably the most accepted commonplace for DID is made by World Vast Internet Consortium (W3C). As per the usual of W3C, a DID is a URI (much like a URL) that may resolve to (i.e., look as much as) a DID doc. Let’s pause a bit and look intently at every aspect.
– URI: URI is fairly much like URL. It’s used to determine a logical or bodily useful resource on the web.
– DID doc is a doc that accommodates info related to the topic that DID discuss with (DID topic).
– DID doc is saved on a verifiable knowledge registry, which is usually a blockchain or decentralized storage (eg., Ceramic Community)
– The final element within the DID infrastructure is DID controller, which controls (adjustments or updates) DID. DID controller can typically be DID topic.
Beneath is the graph that reveals the infrastructure of DID (supply: W3C)
One other decentralized id commonplace is Verifiable Credentials. Whereas DID represents your id, VCs characterize your achievements, certificates, and participation. For instance, a VC is usually a badge that helps a member of a DAO show their contribution to the group and thus, obtain extra voting energy.
Moreover utilizing DID and VC to create decentralized id, one other technique to create decentralized id is to wrap the id in a token, resembling an NFT or a Soulbound Token. This token will comprise the information that make up its proprietor’s id. Since person owns this token, they will use it to entry any platform throughout web3 (portability).
Prime tasks in decentralized id
Sufficient for idea. Let’s discover the highest tasks engaged on making decentralized id a actuality.
1/ Disco (disco.xyz/)
Though nonetheless within the beta part, Disco has attracted lots of consideration. It helps customers create their id in web3 they usually can take this id with them to entry any apps and areas within the ecosystem, multi functional “backpack”.
Presently, Disco shops person knowledge on Ceramic Community, a decentralized storage, however will combine extra storage options over time.
Just lately, Disco built-in with Guild to permit gated entry and customised roles utilizing VCs.
2/ Spruce (spruceid.com/)
Spruce is constructing infrastructure for decentralized id. Its DIDKit helps builders construct DIDs and VCs performance for his or her tasks throughout platforms.
Spruce additionally affords Kepler, a decentralized storage, which is a vital element of DID system.
The corporate is funded by Y Combinator and a16z.
3/ Lens Protocol (lens.xyz/)
Lens Protocol is a decentralized social community. On the core, Lens Protocol has two elements:
Profile NFT
Initiatives construct on prime of Lens
The Profile NFT is the principle object within the Lens Protocol. Consider this NFT as your transportable profile. The particular factor about this NFT is the flexibility to submit publications (content material) to it. It additionally accommodates all of the posts, feedback, and different content material that you simply generate.
Because you personal this NFT, you additionally personal all the knowledge and content material that you simply generate on the platform (aka social graph) and convey it to new platforms.
What’s extra, Lens permits builders to create platforms on prime of it, making a wealthy and vibrant ecosystem. On Lens, customers can add their movies on Lenstube (a Web3 YouTube), replace what is going on on Lenster (a Web3 Twitter), and lots of extra sooner or later.
4/ Sismo (sismo.io/)
Sismo helps customers declare badges within the type of a soulbound token (SBT). For instance, a badge could be “Donated to Gitcoin grants” or “Voted 2 instances within the ENS DAO”. These badges may help customers acquire entry to gated providers or show their fame inside a group.
Thanks for studying this far. Hope you discovered an awesome deal about decentralized id. Recognize any feedback and suggestions.
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