Decentralization digital identity: A new paradigm for reshaping trust

In today's digital age, every time you go online, you may be required to provide a large amount of personal information. This data often becomes a tool for companies to profit and for governments to archive, and it may even be stolen by hackers. To prove identification, users are forced to provide more information than necessary.

However, Web3 technology brings us new possibilities: a truly user-controlled identification system. Decentralized identity (DID) allows users to have ownership of their own identity and flexibly decide what information to share and with whom.

Decentralization identification's operational mechanism

DID can be understood as a "digital passport number" autonomously created by the user. It does not rely on third-party allocation but is generated and recorded by the user on decentralized networks such as the blockchain. This identity cannot be revoked and is not subject to any single platform or institution.

"Verifiable Credentials" are electronic certificates issued by authoritative institutions, such as driver's licenses and diplomas, stored in the user's digital identity wallet. DID serves as the core anchor point of identification, with each credential corresponding to specific information.

The main advantages of this system include: reducing the risk of data leaks, no longer being tied to a specific platform, and a fast and efficient verification process. Users can use the same identification in different scenarios while maintaining control over their data. For example, one only needs to prove "over 21 years old" without revealing the exact birthday.

Evolution of identification in Web3

As early as the NFT craze in 2021-2022, millions of users demonstrated their demand for autonomous digital identity by registering ENS domain names. This trend reflects users' desire to control their online identification and data flow.

Today, decentralized identification is no longer limited to avatars or nicknames, but is gradually evolving into a tool and infrastructure that connects the real world.

KILT Protocol: A Practice for Achieving Decentralization in Identification

KILT Protocol is an identification protocol built on Polkadot that allows organizations to issue and verify credentials, which users then store in their own wallets. This method enables identity verification without the need to upload sensitive data.

KILT has been applied in various fields, including gaming, enterprise KYC processes, DePIN projects, and AI tools. The common advantage of these applications is that users can verify their identity without losing control over their data while protecting their privacy.

Challenges and Progress

Although the infrastructure for decentralized identification has been established, it still faces many challenges in the process of popularization, such as non-unified standards, unclear regulations, and the need for improvement in user experience.

However, there has also been encouraging progress. For example, W3C has officially recognized DID and verifiable credentials as web standards, marking that Decentralization identification has become an important component of the future web architecture.

Polkadot: The Cornerstone of Digital Sovereignty

The founder of Polkadot emphasized that digital identity is the key to a more open and fair internet. He advocates the concept of "self-sovereignty," where users have control over their data, rather than relying on platforms.

KILT, as a native rollup on Polkadot, provides a scalable, secure, and interoperable credentialing system for digital identity. It leverages Polkadot's shared security, low fees, and multi-chain connectivity advantages, making the construction of Decentralization identity more sustainable and practical.

Looking to the future

Decentralization identification is reshaping the relationship between users and platforms. It allows users to regain control over their identification, deciding when, where, and with whom to share information. Although it is still in the early stages, the related ecosystem has begun to take shape, with practical applications in AI, DePIN, gaming, and other fields.

Web3 is not just a technological innovation; it is also a process of empowering people with "digital identity sovereignty." Future identities will be more sovereign, interoperable, and user-controlled. Polkadot is working hard to make this vision a reality, laying the foundation for a more open and fair internet.