The emergence of blockchain as a technology for applying a decentralized and tamper-evident shared-ledger enables new experimentation in how best to implement a common trust domain, which Gartner refers to as the identity trust fabric (ITF).
Decentralized identity orgs sign letter of intent to collaborate on standardization
Leaders in the field of decentralized identifiers (DID) have issued a joint Letter of Intent outlining plans to collaborate on and accelerate standardization of DID methods.
A blog post from the Decentralized Identity Foundation (DIF) says it collaborated on the letter with the Trust Over IP (ToIP) Foundation, W3C Credentials Community Group (W3C CCG), W3C Decentralized Identifier Working Group (W3C DID WG) and “other key organizations.”
The letter recognizes “the importance of Decentralized Identifier (DID) method standardization in ensuring interoperability, security and user control in decentralized digital identity systems.” Standardization is the next step – and with the W3C DID WG in the process of redrafting its charter, says the group, now is the time.
Initial focus should be on “methods that have proven useful to multiple implementers over the past several years.” Thus a proposal to identify and start the process for a few key DID methods, and “subsequently informing standardization and conformance criteria across categories of DID methods.”
Collaboration and broad engagement are listed as main priorities. The group hopes to reach out to the broader DID community to join in working together on a “detailed roadmap.” Collaboration agreements and working groups will focus on promoting standardization in three DID method categories: self-resolvable/single key methods, web-based methods and decentralized methods.
“This letter of intent captures our joint commitment to the success of DIDs by ensuring maturity of a cross-section of commonly-used methods,” it reads. The effort will “lead to the development of shared conformance standards, test vectors, test suites, and other deliverables, with the intent of developing artifacts useful across categories of DID methods (e.g. DID traits or capabilities). This will benefit all DID methods, wherever they are being developed, and the broader DID ecosystem in promoting shared rigor and broad interoperability.”
A timeline laid out in the letter has Working Group charters in proposal stage by October 2024.
“We believe this collaborative relationship between DIF, ToIP Foundation, W3C CCG, W3C DID WG, and other standards organizations will significantly advance the adoption of these foundational DID methods, ultimately benefiting the broader decentralized digital identity ecosystem,” says the letter. “We look forward to working together to achieve these objectives.”
DIF hackathon to focus on DID in key sectors
In the spirit of collaboration, the DIF is inviting experienced developers and product managers to a DID hackathon to take place throughout October, coinciding with Hacktoberfest.
“This is a unique opportunity for companies to pioneer challenges, attract top-tier talent, and deepen their grasp of how decentralized identity (DI) can revolutionize identity solutions,” says an announcement.
Challenges must incorporate DIDs and verifiable credentials (VCs) adhering to open standards at the W3C. The release lists two so-called entry styles: “Applications with Code Provided” and “Idea Submissions (including engineering approaches and components used).”
An ITF is the key component that reduces the role of central identity providers in managing trust. It’s possible that it could circumvent central authority altogether.
Letter of Intent to Promote DID Method Standardization
Release date: July 30, 2024
Context and Goal:
Leaders of the Decentralized Identity Foundation (DIF), Trust Over IP (ToIP) Foundation, W3C
Credentials Community Group, and W3C Decentralized Identifier Working Group (DID WG)
recognize the importance of Decentralized Identifier (DID) method standardization in ensuring
interoperability, security, and user control in decentralized digital identity systems. With the
rechartering of the DID WG, the leaders of DID-related work streams believe that now is the
right time to extend standardization to DID Methods, with an initial focus on methods that have
proven useful to multiple implementers over the past several years. In that spirit, we are
proposing that we start the standardization process for a few selected DID Methods,
subsequently informing standardization and conformance criteria across categories of DID
methods.
To achieve this goal and ensure broad participation amongst DIF, ToIP Foundation, W3C CCG,
and W3C DID WG, we intend to establish collaboration agreements to form DID method
standardization working groups with the initial goal of promoting standardization in the following
DID method categories:
- Self-resolvable / single key methods — such as did:key and did:jwk.
- Web-based methods — such as did:web and did:tdw.
- Decentralized methods — such as did:dht.
A collaboration agreement will allow members of each organization to collaborate on DID
Method standardization.
This letter will follow with a broader outreach to relevant companies and organizations, including
DID method creators, DID standards incubators, and DID adopters, as we elaborate a detailed
roadmap and plans.
Scope and Additional DID Method Standardization:
DID Method standardization does not imply endorsement. This letter of intent captures our joint
commitment to the success of DIDs by ensuring maturity of a cross-section of commonly-used
methods.
This collaboration will lead to the development of shared conformance standards, test vectors,
test suites, and other deliverables, with the intent of developing artifacts useful across
categories of DID methods (e.g. DID traits or capabilities). This will benefit all DID methods,
wherever they are being developed, and the broader DID ecosystem in promoting shared rigor
and broad interoperability.
Whether, and in which organization, to standardize a DID method is up to the authors of the
method and its specific requirements. Authors of DID methods are invited to reach out to any of
these organizations, or others they prefer, to advance standardization of their DID methods.
Deliverables
This initiative’s output will conform to those of W3C’s existing DID Working Groups, including
DID Core v1.1 and DID Resolution v1.0. The following will be developed for each DID method:
● Specifications in conformance with DID Core v1.1 and DID Resolution v1.0.
● Test vectors.
● Test suites with at least two independent implementations.
Conclusion:
We believe this collaborative relationship between DIF, ToIP Foundation, W3C CCG, W3C DID
WG, and other standards organizations will significantly advance the adoption of these
foundational DID methods, ultimately benefiting the broader decentralized digital identity
ecosystem. We look forward to working together to achieve these objectives. - Want to be involved?
To stay informed about this effort, please sign up here: https://forms.gle/Cvsm8HfEdchmEr1a6
Signed:
Kim Hamilton Duffy
Executive Director, Decentralized Identity Foundation
Judith Fleenor
Executive Director, Trust Over IP Foundation
Gabe Cohen
Co-Chair, DID WG / Lead Editor, did:dht / Director of Open Standards, TBD
Dan Burnett
Co-Chair, DID WG
Manu Sporny
Lead Editor, DID Core, did:key, and DID Spec Registries / CEO, Digital Bazaar
Harrison Tang
Co-Chair, W3C CCG / CEO, Spokeo
Stephen Curran
Editor, did:tdw Specification / Cloud Compass Computing Inc.
Andrew Whitehead
Editor, did:tdw Specification / Portage Cybertech Inc.
Ankur Banerjee
Co-Chair, DIF TSC / Editor, did:cheqd / CTO & Co-Founder, cheqd
Kerri Lemoie
Director, MIT Digital Credentials Consortium
Markus Sabadello
Lead Editor, DID Resolution / Co-Chair, DIF ID WG / CEO & Founder, Danube Tech
Kimberly Wilson Linson
Co-Chair, W3C CCG / Credentials Product Owner, Level Data
Eike Haß
Lead Identity, IOTA Foundation
Line Kofoed
Trustee, Sovrin Foundation, did:sov Method / Co-founder Bloqzone