Humanity Protocol, a privacy-first blockchain id community and high-profile rival to Sam Altman’s Worldcoin, fired up its mainnet, debuting a system that connects acquainted Web2 credentials to decentralized Web3 providers utilizing zero-knowledge transport layer safety (zkTLS).
The introduction comes simply months after the Hong Kong-based startup raised $20 million in a funding spherical co-led by Bounce Crypto and Pantera Capital, lifting its valuation to $1.1 billion.
Humanity Protocol’s zkTLS expertise permits customers to show they’ve considered verifiable info, resembling job listings or airline loyalty standing, with out revealing the underlying doc or web page.
Delicate knowledge by no means leaves the consumer’s browser, avoiding the privateness issues which have riddled biometric approaches, together with Worldcoin’s iris-scanning mannequin.
Initially, vacationers are ready hyperlink frequent-flyer and loyalty accounts on to their “Human ID,” creating a conveyable repute layer usable throughout each Web2 and Web3 purposes.
The community additionally helps monetary, academic {and professional} credentials. In future, it plans to roll out node infrastructure in new areas in addition to venturing into on-chain ticketing and decentralized governance.
“Our mainnet launch turns decentralized id into sensible infrastructure,” mentioned founder and CEO Terence Kwok. “With zkTLS now reside, anybody can verify who they’re and what they’ve achieved throughout a number of platforms, but no central celebration ever sees their private info.”
By counting on cryptographic proofs somewhat than bodily biometrics, Humanity Protocol positions itself as a extra privacy-conscious various to Worldcoin and different “proof-of-human” initiatives.
The community’s structure permits builders to construct Sybil-resistant social platforms, reputation-based marketplaces and AI “humanity checks” with out gathering or storing delicate consumer knowledge. A Sybil assault happens when an individual or entity creates a number of faux identities inside a community, usually to achieve a reward like an airdrop or disproportionate management of a community’s operations.
