A DID (Decentralized Identifier) is a globally unique identifier that allows entities (such as individuals, organizations, or devices) to be identified in a decentralized manner. The DID Key method is a specific type of DID that directly encodes a cryptographic public key into the DID itself.
Self-Contained and Lightweight – DID Key is self-contained. All the necessary information (the public key) is encoded directly in the DID. This makes it ideal for lightweight applications where quick verification is required without external dependencies.
Decentralization – DID Key adheres to the principles of decentralization because it does not rely on any centralized authority for issuance or management.
Interoperability – DID Key is compatible with many cryptographic algorithms and can be easily used across different platforms and ecosystems that support the W3C Verifiable Credentials standard.
Privacy-Preserving – Because DID Keys are ephemeral and can be generated on-demand, they are suitable for privacy-preserving applications. Entities can generate a new DID Key for each interaction, reducing the risk of correlation across different transactions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Anyone or anything capable of generating a cryptographic key pair can get and use a DID Key. This includes individuals, organizations, devices, software applications, and even non-human entities like robots or AI models. The DID Key method democratizes digital identity, making it accessible, self-sovereign, and usable in a wide range of decentralized ecosystems.
To get a DID Key, you simply need to generate a cryptographic key pair and encode the public key into the DID Key format. This self-contained identifier is lightweight, secure, and ideal for decentralized applications, enabling you to issue, hold, and verify verifiable credentials without reliance on external registries.
DID Key preserves privacy by being pseudonymous, self-sovereign, and free from centralized control. Its local generation, lack of correlation across interactions, and minimal metadata make it an excellent choice for privacy-sensitive applications, particularly in environments where lightweight, temporary, and private interactions are needed.
The DID Key method is a popular choice for generating self-sovereign, cryptographic identifiers without relying on external registries. However, it has limitations, such as lacking persistence, scalability, and the ability to resolve externally. To address these limitations, several alternatives to DID Key exist, each tailored for different needs, ecosystems, and trust models.
The main difference between DID Key and email/password authentication lies in decentralization, security, and privacy. DID Key provides a self-sovereign, cryptographic solution that enhances privacy and security, while email/password relies on centralized systems that are easier to use but more vulnerable to breaches and surveillance.
In the context of DID Key, self-sovereign means that users are in full control of their digital identity. They can create, manage, and use their identifiers (e.g. DIDs) independently, without relying on any centralized authority, thereby ensuring greater privacy, security, and autonomy in the digital world.
The DID Key method provides a simple, lightweight, and self-contained way to represent decentralized identifiers in the context of verifiable credentials. It is ideal for scenarios that require fast, secure, and decentralized identification without external dependencies, making it a valuable tool for cryptographic verification and privacy-preserving digital interactions.