Animoca’s Humanity Protocol Unveils ZKP-Powered Palm Recognition

The Human Institute has recently introduced the Humanity Protocol, an innovative privacy-focused biometric palm recognition technology designed to verify Web3 identities. On February 20, the Humanity Protocol was launched on the testnet of the Polygon chain development kit (CDK), developed in collaboration with Animoca Brands and Polygon Labs. The founder of the Humanity Protocol, Terence Kwok, aims to provide a less intrusive alternative to traditional biometric verification methods like iris scans. Yat Siu, the co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands, believes that existing proof-of-personhood solutions can be invasive and burdensome for users, whereas the Humanity Protocol offers better equity and inclusion.

The underlying layer of the Humanity Protocol, known as the Polygon CDK, employs zero-knowledge proofs (ZK-proofs) to enhance network security and incorporates the proof-of-humanity (PoH) consensus mechanism for validating identities. ZK-proofs are cryptographic protocols that allow a user to prove specific information to another user without disclosing the information itself. The use of ZK-proofs and other privacy-preserving technologies is expected to support the wider adoption of Web3 technologies.

According to Nikita Uriupin, the founder of Exverse, advancements in privacy-preserving technologies like ZK-proofs will instill greater confidence in Web3 solutions, especially in light of the numerous data breaches that have occurred in recent years. In fact, there were over 2,800 reported data breaches in 2023, resulting in the exposure of billions of documents. In contrast to traditional Web2 data management systems, the Humanity Protocol ensures that users have complete ownership and control over their data.

Sandeep Nailwal, the co-founder of Polygon, believes that the Humanity Protocol will pave the way for a wide range of new applications. He explains that the protocol is the world’s first blockchain ecosystem that is both sybil-resistant and capable of integrating verifiable credentials into a decentralized validator node network. This lays the groundwork for the development of various blockchain-based solutions and real-world applications.

Through its collaboration with Animoca Brands and Polygon Labs, the Human Institute has made significant progress in developing the Humanity Protocol. By offering a more user-centric and privacy-focused approach to biometric verification, the protocol aims to promote equity, inclusion, and decentralized digital identities within the Web3 ecosystem. With its integration of zero-knowledge proofs and the proof-of-humanity consensus mechanism, the Humanity Protocol is poised to contribute to the mass adoption of Web3 technologies and enhance security in the digital landscape.