Humanity Protocol is a zero-knowledge (ZK) decentralized id mission that goals to bridge the hole between on-line and offline identities. In its newest funding spherical, the corporate raised $20m at a valuation of $1.1 bn.
The mission is making a verification system that makes use of palm scans for on-line accounts. The corporate says it focuses on privateness and safety because it offers with delicate biometric knowledge. Worldcoin, its main rival, has raised considerations about security and regulatory compliance within the digital ID sector.
Cryptonews spoke with Humanity CEO Terence Kwok to discover the corporate’s expertise and strategy. On this interview, we ask how Humanity plans to handle these urgent points whereas making certain person belief.
With over 3.2 million digital IDs created on the platform over the past 4 months, we look at whether or not Humanity can actually present a viable different.
Expertise: Humanity vs Worldcoin
Cryptonews: What separates Humanity Protocol’s strategy to digital id from that of your main rival Worldcoin, by way of expertise, person expertise, enrollment, and knowledge storage?
Terence Kwok: Humanity Protocol and Worldcoin share similarities of their use of Zero-Information Proofs for privacy-preserving id verification, however they differ considerably of their person expertise and enrollment strategies.
Humanity Protocol makes use of palm vein scans, that are extra accessible, non-invasive, and acquainted to customers, enabling seamless adoption and scalability throughout various demographics and environments. This deal with intuitive, user-friendly expertise reduces limitations to entry whereas making certain privateness and safety, making a extra inclusive and scalable answer for decentralized digital id.
CN: How does the palm scanning expertise utilized by Humanity Protocol evaluate to the iris scanning utilized by Worldcoin?
TK: The palm scanning expertise utilized by Humanity Protocol presents a safe and privacy-preserving different to the iris scanning employed by Worldcoin. Palm vein scans are much less invasive and really feel extra acquainted to customers, resembling on a regular basis authentication strategies like biometric funds or smartphone entry. This reduces discomfort or hesitancy usually related to scanning delicate options like irises.
Palm scanning is extremely safe, counting on distinctive vein patterns beneath the pores and skin, that are troublesome to duplicate. Humanity Protocol’s strategy strikes a stability between strong safety and person consolation, making it higher suited to wide-scale adoption with out compromising privateness or accessibility.
CN: How does Humanity deal with considerations about entry for underserved populations who could not have the expertise or infrastructure to make use of digital IDs?
TK: Humanity prioritizes inclusivity and minimizing limitations to entry. The protocol helps low-cost {hardware} options, like palm vein scanners, to make sure accessibility in areas with restricted infrastructure. Offline enrollment packages and partnerships with native organizations assist bridge the digital divide by enabling customers to register in individual.
Is the Scanning Methodology Protected?
CN: In Kenya, Worldcoin confronted main regulatory scrutiny, even a short lived shutdown, after experiences that some individuals developed eye issues after getting their irises scanned. What steps is Humanity taking to make sure that its biometric gadgets are protected for customers?
TK: Humanity employs non-invasive, completely examined biometric gadgets like palm vein scanners as a substitute of iris scanners. These gadgets use innocent near-infrared gentle to map vein patterns, a expertise confirmed protected by means of in depth medical and technical evaluations. Palm veins are additionally much more sturdy than irises as these patterns gained’t change with use of the {hardware} gadgets.
CN: In gentle of the backlash towards Worldcoin’s strategies, how do you intend to construct public belief in your organization’s biometric verification processes?
TK: Humanity is constructing public belief by means of transparency, privateness, and safety. When it’s rolled out, our biometric verification course of will leverage superior zero-knowledge proofs, making certain that no delicate info is saved or shared.
The zkProofer community verifies id with out compromising person privateness, permitting people to take care of full management over their private knowledge. At this second, no biometrics have been collected but. Customers are solely allowed to register their human IDs.
CN: How does Humanity Protocol plan to compete with different rising applied sciences in digital id verification past biometrics, similar to blockchain-based id options with out bodily verification?
TK: Humanity Protocol combines biometrics with blockchain to create a hybrid answer that addresses the weaknesses of purely digital id methods. Whereas blockchain-only options excel in decentralization, they battle with Sybil resistance and verifying real-world uniqueness.
Humanity bridges this hole with safe, non-invasive biometric verification, linking distinctive human attributes to decentralized identities. Its deal with inclusivity, offline onboarding, and privateness by means of zero-knowledge proofs makes it versatile and aggressive.
Tokenomics
CN: I perceive that Humanity is planning to launch a token later this yr. What’s the utility of the token, and the way will it drive worth for token holders?
TK: The upcoming token will function the spine of the ecosystem to drive participation and reward contributions. Its utility contains governance, enabling token holders to vote on key protocol choices, and powers rewards for validators, incentivizing community safety and engagement.
CN: Worldcoin has used its WLD token to reward customers who volunteer to have their irises scanned. What’s Humanity Protocol’s technique for person acquisition and incentivizing participation and adoption?
TK: Humanity Protocol’s technique focuses on creating worth for customers by means of significant participation reasonably than rewarding them for taking part. Our strategy is centered round constructing a sustainable group and ecosystem.
CN: What’s the financial incentive construction for customers and validators, and the way does it guarantee sustainability with out exploiting customers?
TK: Sustainability is essential right here. Customers achieve real-world utility by way of Proof of Human Id (PoH), unlocking entry to on-chain and off-chain providers. Referral rewards encourage ecosystem development, making a constructive suggestions loop.
Validators, working decentralized Verifier and Founding Nodes, earn constant rewards for verifying credentials and reaching consensus, fostering community safety. HP’s randomized node distribution prevents centralization, whereas tiered participation lowers entry limitations.
Moral AI verification ensures equity, and tokenomics are designed to take care of worth. Collectively, these parts create a strong, equitable, and sustainable id ecosystem.
What’s Subsequent for Humanity’s Palm Scan?
CN: Are you able to elaborate on the timeline for the worldwide rollout of palm scan gadgets, and what are the important thing milestones you purpose to realize in 2025?
TK: Humanity is at present showcasing palm vein gadgets in choose cities throughout Europe and Asia, gathering suggestions to refine the person expertise. We purpose to scale globally with a phased rollout. Key milestones embody increasing deployment to main areas.
CN: What are you able to say are among the challenges you’ve confronted in scaling your infrastructure? And the way does Humanity plan to handle problems with interoperability and cross-platform compatibility with different digital id options?
TK: Scaling the infrastructure has introduced challenges associated to making sure seamless person experiences and managing a rising community. Humanity is targeted on addressing these by adopting modular, versatile structure that may evolve with technological developments.
As for interoperability, the protocol is designed to combine with different digital id methods by means of open requirements, APIs, and collaboration with different initiatives within the house.
Extra observe
Terence Kwok refused to reply some questions that we consider can be invaluable to our readers, citing “compliance causes.” We are going to replace this put up if and after we obtain solutions.
Listed here are the questions that the Humanity Protocol CEO didn’t reply to:
- There have been considerations over the gathering of biometric knowledge by non-public entities like Worldcoin and, clearly, your organization. What measures have you ever put in place to stop knowledge breaches, misuse of delicate knowledge, and unauthorized entry to person info?
- Has Humanity obtained any certifications or commissioned unbiased research to validate the security and accuracy of its biometric scanning expertise?
- In accordance with Humanity’s web site, the protocol has created 3.2 million digital IDs up to now. Are you able to make clear the demographics of the customers who took half? And the way did you deal with knowledge assortment and person consent in growing nations to make sure transparency?
- How will the token distribution be managed to stop market manipulation and guarantee truthful entry for all customers?
The put up Can Humanity Protocol Keep away from Worldcoin’s Pitfalls? | Interview with CEO Terence Kwok appeared first on Cryptonews.
