Proof of Humanity Blockchain: Verifying Unique People Online

Proof of Humanity

A key idea in the blockchain world is Proof of Humanity (PoH), which refers to mechanisms made to confirm that users are actual, distinct people rather than automated systems or phoney accounts. It functions as a decentralized identity verification system that is mostly based on the Ethereum blockchain, establishing a register of confirmed persons that is resistant to Sybil. Its main goal is to create a trustworthy method for determining and verifying that users are actual people.

Although “Proof-of-Personhood” and Proof of Humanity are sometimes used interchangeably, PoH is sometimes a specific application of this concept, linked to a specific decentralized registry or protocol, whereas Proof-of-Personhood generally focusses on establishing uniqueness and human existence to thwart Sybil attacks.

Why Proof of Humanity is Important

There is no central authority to confirm a user’s identification on public blockchains, where anybody may establish an infinite number of wallets. Despite being a strength, this anonymity makes people more susceptible to Sybil attacks, in which one person assumes several false identities in order to obtain undue influence. Critical problems in decentralized systems are addressed by PoH via:

Combating Sybil Attacks: By limiting participation to actual people, it lessens the likelihood of a single entity fabricating several false identities in order to manipulate or take advantage of systems.

Enhancing Security: By stopping bots from tampering with voting, token airdrops, or other crucial procedures, Proof of Humanity improves the security of decentralized apps (dApps).

Ensuring Fairer Participation: In decentralized ecosystems, Proof of Humanity encourages more fair access to resources, governance, and opportunities by guaranteeing that “one person = one account”.

Building Trust and Credibility: In Web3 communities and platforms, it confirms users’ identities, resulting in more trustworthy interactions and a safer online environment.

How Proof of Humanity Works

Instead of using a single, all-encompassing Proof of Humanity protocol, different projects use a variety of techniques, frequently combining them for high confidence.

The Proof of Humanity Protocol (Kleros-based)

Four steps are involved in the most well-known version, which Kleros constructed mostly on the Ethereum blockchain and then the Gnosis Chain:

Submission: In addition to their name, Ethereum address, and basic information, a user uploads a video of themselves speaking a brief message and revealing their face.

Vouching: The new applicant must have an existing, validated human “vouch” for them in order to establish their legitimacy and to guarantee that only authorised users are added.

Challenge Period: Every new contribution has a challenge window (a few days, for example) during which anybody can contest the entry if they think it is a duplicate or fraudulent. Jurors decide on the legitimacy of the challenge in a decentralised arbitration process called Kleros, which is used to settle disputes.

Registry Inclusion: The applicant’s identification is added to the Proof of Humanity register, confirming their uniqueness, if there is no legitimate challenge or if they prevail in the dispute.

In order to maintain the registry current and eliminate profiles of people who may have passed away, participants must also re-register on a regular basis.

Other Mechanisms

Biometric Verification: Worldcoin is one initiative that uses biometric information, like as iris scans, through a physical “Orb” to confirm identity and generate a “World ID.” This method uses zero-knowledge proofs to demonstrate humanity without disclosing private information.

Social Graph Analysis: In order to identify Sybil attacks, protocols such as BrightID employ a “web of trust” concept in which users validate one another via social relationships.

Verifiable Credentials: Credentials that demonstrate not just humanity but also other qualities like age or education can be issued by Proof of Humanity systems.

Features of Proof of Humanity

Sybil-resistance: Makes it duplicate-proof and bot-proof by guaranteeing that each human only makes one validated entry.

Decentralized Arbitration: The Kleros decentralized arbitration system is used to resolve disputes.

Open-source: The protocol is open for anybody to review and add to.

Built on Ethereum: Use smart contracts to provide complete transparency. Proof of Humanity 2.0 has been implemented on Gnosis Chain to lower costs and increase accessibility.

Incentivized: Universal Basic Income (UBI) tokens may be awarded to verified users.

Privacy-conscious: Zero-knowledge proofs for private Sybil-resistant identities can be added to the minimal identity information that is not connected to the government.

Composable: Able can be included into different gaming apps, Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs), and Decentralized Finance (DeFi).

Use Cases of Proof of Humanity

PoH enables a number of applications, laying the groundwork for a more human-centered Web3:

Universal Basic Income (UBI) Distribution: Ensures that genuine people receive UBI tokens equitably and stops bots from claiming more than one award.

Decentralized Governance (DAOs) & Online Voting: Prevents manipulation and guarantees that only actual people may participate in decision-making by enforcing fair “one person, one vote” systems.

Airdrops: Prohibits bots from claiming tokens in bulk, guaranteeing that legitimate users receive a fair allocation.

Decentralized Social Media Platforms: Reduces trolling, bot spam, and phoney profiles, fostering more genuine online communities.

Peer-to-Peer Marketplaces: Confirms the identity of participants, boosting confidence and lowering fraud in markets for products or freelancing labour.

 Universal Identifiers & Self-Sovereign Identities: For dApps, Proof of Humanity accounts may be used as universal login methods, giving users the ability to manage their own data and demonstrate their qualities independently of a central authority.

Better Funding Mechanisms: By avoiding manipulation, it ensures the best and most equitable allocation of cash when used in conjunction with quadratic voting to create new financing models for community initiatives.

Anti-Spam Tool: Enables a specific quantity of captcha-free interactions for confirmed Proof of Humanity users, saving time and avoiding spam by determined individuals.

Sidechains Secured by PoH Consensus: A new kind of sidechain based on the “1 person = 1 vote” premise, akin to Proof of Authority sidechains, may be secured by the PoH registry.

Secure Transactions & Access Control: May regulate access to digital or physical platforms and verify users in financial transactions to stop fraud.

Challenges and Future Developments

Proof of Humanity has a number of drawbacks despite its advantages:

Vouching Abuse: To obtain vouches, fraudulent users may band together.

Privacy Concerns: Although privacy layers employing zero-knowledge proofs are being investigated, users upload films to the internet, and biometric techniques raise concerns about data security and abuse.

Dispute Complexity: Active and sometimes intricate arbitration may be necessary to resolve disputes.

Scalability: With more users, human moderation may become a bottleneck.

Centralization Risk: The decentralized nature of blockchain may be at odds with certain Proof of Humanity solutions that use centralized hardware or services.

Accessibility and Inclusivity: Some verification techniques may exclude parts of the world’s population since not everyone has access to the required technology or geographical places.

Evolving Threats: PoH systems need to adjust to deepfakes and advanced AI-powered assaults.

Proof of Humanity 2.0 and other future initiatives seek to overcome some of these problems by:

• Using Gnosis Chain in order to save transaction costs.
• To improve security and enable reputation recovery even in the event that original wallets are lost, we present Soulbound IDs, which are distinct, non-transferable identifiers that associate every person with a single Proof of Humanity ID.
• Facilitating multi-chain growth to function across several blockchain networks, enhancing interoperability and accessibility.
• Concentrating on enhancing privacy by employing anonymous Sybil-resistant identities, such as zero-knowledge proofs or traceable ring signatures, which enable users to demonstrate their humanity without disclosing who they are.

Essentially, Proof of Humanity serves as a decentralized club’s bouncer. In order to vote, receive rewards, or just enjoy the community, it makes sure that only real, distinct people not gangs of imposters or robots can enter and participate properly.

Key Difference between Proof of Personhood (PoP) and Proof of Humanity (PoH)