Proof of Humanity (PoH)
Proof of Humanity is a decentralized digital self-sovereign identity registry.
Website: https://proofofhumanity.id/
HQ: Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Active Markets: Global
Problem Addressed
The verification of an individual’s identity is required to access a range of resources, services, and economic opportunities that those without identification cannot. Countries, institutions, and organizations are rapidly moving toward the adoption of digital identity tools to streamline system management and accessibility, but challenges exist with the rise of AI manipulation and the creation of bot or spam accounts that can flood or mislead systems.
Project Description
Proof of Humanity (PoH) uses sybil-resistant cryptography and social verification to create a blockchain registry of digital self-sovereign identities (SSIs), with the goal of creating proof of identity in online spaces across the internet. People seeking digital identities through PoH first verify their identities by submitting information about themselves, connecting a Web3 wallet, submitting a video including speech, and paying a deposit. Deposits are returned after successful verification, intending to act only as a deterrent to fake or spam accounts. When another profile already in the registry vouches for the new user, profile creation is completed.
Verified users can vouch for other newcomers or challenges suspicious users who don’t comply with the acceptance requirements. Disputes are sent to the Proof of Humanity dispute resolution protocol Kleros, where submissions that are deemed incorrect, deceased, duplicated, or non-existent are determined by the Kleros Court, or returned to pending registration status. Registered profiles receive universal basic income (UBI) tokens, which are deposited into accounts every second.
PoH enables DAO structure formation to guide the protocol or develop working groups. DAO functionality facilitates novel quadratic funding models, social key recovery, and credit scoring.
Business Data
Status: Active
Constituency Served: Anyone wanting a digital identity online.
Networks: Ethereum, Kleros
Known Investors: Funding sources not disclosed.
Additional References: Whitepaper (Kleros) Ethnographic Report of PoH DAO
Progress to date
Kleros, the dispute resolution protocol operating in conjunction with PoH, was able to successfully identify and defend against an attack on PoH’s DAO treasury, preventing a more than $100,000 breach in late 2023.
Business Model
PoH is funded in part by grants through Gitcoin and Kleros.
Traction
To date, there are over 20,000 humans who have registered on the platform.