The Evolution of Identity
summary
History of identity condenses into a practical stack: persistent DIDs (over 60+ DID implementations and an Ethereum EIP), mutable DID documents via 3id on Ceramic, and an IDX key-value map that links schema docIDs to record docIDs so apps can discover user data anywhere. Claims include existing adoption—40,000 identities and 200,000 connected databases from ThreeBox usage—plus social recovery via smart-contract identities, limits of ENS/domains, and the remaining problem: decentralized discovery and indexing across heterogeneous stores.
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chapters (15)
- 0:00Intro
- 3:05Definitions
- 3:47What is identity?
- 6:15Understanding authentication
- 7:34The known universe problem (silos) Another person, ontity or computer's understanding of you is limited
- 9:34Web 2: Server-based identity systems
- 11:11Web 3: Crypto-based identity systems
- 11:37Public keys as identifiers (EOAs)
- 14:04Smart contracts as identifiers (proxy)
- 16:21Domains as identifiers
- 18:54DIDs as identifiers
- 22:37Discovery..?
- 25:28A path forward
- 27:06IDX: Cross-platform identity standard
- 28:36IDX: How it works
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