Solana Launches Identification Verification Service SAS, How is it Different from Oracle Machine?

Recently, Solana launched a new identification verification service (SAS), which is an open, permissionless verifiable credential protocol. This service allows trusted issuers to associate off-chain information with user wallets, such as KYC check results, geographical eligibility, membership status, or certification status. These verifications are signed and validated, allowing for reuse across different applications without exposing sensitive data or requiring repeated verification steps.

The launch of SAS provides a neutral and permissionless proof layer for the Solana ecosystem, aiming to achieve compliance, access control, reputation systems, and programmable identification throughout the ecosystem. This not only brings a higher quality and more convenient experience for end users but also offers new functional support for developers.

Although verification services and Oracle Machines are both mechanisms for bringing off-chain information onto the blockchain, they have significant differences in terms of positioning, use cases, trust models, and how they operate. Below is a detailed comparison of the two:

Verification Services vs Oracle Machine: Main Features Comparison

1. Main Use:

   • Verification services: Transforming off-chain identification, status, behaviors, and other subjective or static information into on-chain credentials.
   • Oracle Machine: Input objective and dynamic off-chain data (such as prices, weather, etc.) onto the chain.

2. Data Types:

   • verification services: subjective/event-based, such as age verification, identification, organizational membership, etc.
   • Oracle Machine: Numerical/Factual type, such as cryptocurrency prices, external API data, weather information, etc.

3. Data Structure:

   • Verification service: reusable, wallet-bound verification "stamp"
   • Oracle Machine: Real-time data streams used in transactions (e.g., price feed)

4. Source of Trust:

   • Verification service: Specific trusted publishers (such as KYC institutions, DAOs, device manufacturers) sign to prove
   • Oracle Machine: Multiple data sources aggregated and published through the Oracle Machine network.

5. Update Frequency:

   • verification service: usually infrequent, valid for a long time after being generated once
   • Oracle Machine: High-frequency updates, possibly updating price data every minute.

6. Composability and Reusability:

   • Verification service: Yes, a single verification can be reused across multiple applications.
   • Oracle Machine: Usually not allowed, price data is primarily used as input for specific transactions.

7. Privacy Processing:

   • Verification Service: Emphasizes privacy protection, only verifies "whether passed" without disclosing detailed information.
   • Oracle Machine: usually does not involve user identification privacy

8. Representative project/technology:

   • verification services: Solana Attestation Service, Ethereum Attestation Service (EAS)
   • Oracle Machine: Chainlink, Pyth, Band Protocol

A specific example can help to better understand the difference between the two.

Application scenarios of verification services: After users complete identity verification on the Web3 platform, they receive an "adult" on-chain certification stamp. This stamp is stored in the user's wallet, and any dApp can verify it in the future without the user needing to resubmit identification documents.

Application scenarios of Oracle Machine: DeFi protocols need to know the current price of ETH to determine liquidation conditions, and will read the real-time ETH/USD price through the Oracle Machine.

Overall, the Oracle Machine primarily focuses on the off-chain "objective facts" data input, while the verification service concentrates on off-chain "subjective or conditional trust" identification or status verification. These two mechanisms play a complementary rather than substitute role in the blockchain ecosystem, jointly promoting the diversified development of blockchain applications.