Identity 3.0 — PhotoChromic ushers in an era of smart digital identity

As we look forward to 2022, we are filled with optimism in unlocking untapped opportunities and the potential of the Metaverse. Recently, a raft of emergent standards has converged, perfectly positioning PhotoChromic to solve old challenges in new and innovative ways. We believe that 2022 is going to be a watershed moment for both Web 3.0 and Identity 3.0.

But first, let us reflect on the current status quo in identity and the factors that are currently converging to create the most opportune time to revolutionize identity, and then look at how we plan to solve them as part of our Roadmap for 2022.

What is the problem with digital identity?

Digital identity has evolved over the last decade or so, with various iterations as part of Web 1.0 and Web 2.0. Despite many advancements in both technology and regulations, there are three lingering challenges with the digital identity today:

• Identity transcends locally issued Government identity documentation: Passports may enable travel, but most attributes of your identity, including economic behavior and asset ownership do not travel well.
• Identity is not private by design: You share your identity data and documentation with banks and insurers in exchange for fiat currency privileges. You entrust them to maintain privacy and security. This trust is often compromised, and your identity data is breached.
• Digital identity is platform-centric: Your identity is tethered to the platform on which you are creating the content, resulting in a splintered identity across multiple platforms with siloed and disaggregated data. As content-creators, where can we have a single view of our own data, content, and identity? Why can we not log into the internet and simply transact as ourselves?

We believe that it is opportune for individuals, content creators, artists, sportspeople and celebrities to finally take centre stage and consider new ways of identity management.

The Perfect Convergence of Emerging Standards

Over the last few months or so, we have merged both existing and emerging standards into a unique identity solution that is compatible with the majority of DeFi tools and protocols, namely:

• Ethereum Name Service (“ENS”): ENS is a distributed, open, and extensible naming system based on the Ethereum blockchain, enabling crypto-users to convert a machine-readable address into a human-readable address. Given it is extensible, additional metadata can be stored within an ENS domain such as a traditional Domain Name System (“DNS”) such as “Photochromic.io”, Twitter profile, and InterPlanetary File System (“IPFS”) hashes. As of 17 December 2021, there were over 550,000 ENS domains owned by over 225,000 Ethereum addresses.
• Non-fungible Token (“NFT”): NFTs have been in existence for some time but hit their stride in 2021. By design, they are unique and can contain uniquely identifiable data and metadata. An NFT has a human-readable address that maps to a public key on networks like Ethereum, Bitcoin, and others. NFTs can conform to the ERC721 standard. As such, they are compatible with NFT platforms such as OpenSea and Rarible.
• Sign in With Ethereum (“SIWE”): SIWE is a novel means of authentication that enables users to take control of his/her digital identity by using an Ethereum account and an ENS profile. This is in direct contrast to a centralized or traditional intermediary which controls the profile and data of the user. SIWE is currently in use throughout Web3 and is a collective effort to standardize verification in a decentralized manner that enables the user to take full control and ownership of his/her data and identity.

By combining these primitives into a single solution, we augment his/her capabilities and provide the users with an additional level of security and convenience, as illustrated:

The first product release of PhotoChromic enables the user to create a PhotoChromic identity that consists of:

• An ENS subdomain
• Wallet address that’s been KYC’ed
• Identity verification, AML and liveness check
• A piece of unique generative art, in part designed by the owner

The ENS subdomain acts as a human-readable alias and resolves to the user’s wallet address. In this way, the ENS subdomain and the related wallet can facilitate transacting with the vast majority of DeFi platforms and protocols, but to a verified individual. In addition, at the discretion of the user and following a specific opt-in process, the ENS subdomain can be augmented with additional personal data. In this way, the NFT has additional utility for public personas such as celebrities, influencers, or artists.

The generative art NFT is a uniquely generated digital artwork seeded by the user’s biometrics. It is linked to the avatar field of his/her ENS record and, as such, can act as a PFP.

By uniquely combining the above emerging standards, the user is well-equipped to control his/her online identity and related personal data.

The Building Blocks of the PhotoChromic first product release

The PhotoChromic product comprises of:

1. A Decentralised App (“dApp”): A slick front-end interface for users to connect his/her wallet and mint his/her PhotoChromic NFTs.
2. Connection to major Ethereum based wallet providers such as Metamask, Wallet Connect, and Coinbase, providing users with flexibility when initially connecting his/her wallet to the dApp.
3. Integration with ENS: PhotoChromic builds upon the success of ENS, the most widely integrated blockchain naming standard, utilizing the system as the foundation for PhotoChromic’s self-sovereign identity solution.
4. NFT generative art: Each PhotoChromic NFT holder will be provided with a unique digital representation of his/her identity using algorithmic art, which is created during the NFT minting process. To maximize decentralization and user control, the NFT artwork is stored on IPFS.

How to create your PhotoChromic Identity

The PhotoChromic Identity NFT is created in 5 simple steps:

• Reserve your PhotoChromic Identity as an ENS sub-domain e.g. janedoe.photochromic.eth
• Connect your wallet via the PhotoChromic dApp
• Verify your identity through a trusted identity provider that validates your government-backed identity and proof of liveness
• Generate your avatar / PFP of your identity using algorithmic art
• Mint your NFT and publish his/her identity on Ethereum.

At your discretion, you can opt-in to include additional information on your NFT. This linked information will form part of your ENS text records. As such, it is compatible with many popular libraries such as ethers.js or web3.js.

The Power of One Identity

Web3 is ushering in a new era of digital ownership and transacting at an unprecedented pace in an open and decentralized manner. At PhotoChromic, we want to play our part in unlocking the untapped economic potential, enabling innovation, and unleashing the ingenuity of the creator community.

We believe that a universal identity has the potential to enable people to interact directly with each other in a safe space without having to work through an intermediary. The PhotoChromic Identity:

• Facilitates easy and convenient log-in
• Creates a frictionless payment ecosystem
• Verifies and attests identity
• Provides flexibility and extensibility
• Caters for a multitude of privacy options
• Minimizes data stored on-chain
• Enhances personal security
• Gives control of identity back to the user.

With a new year on the horizon and an abundance of emergent technologies, 2022 is set to be a truly transformative year for the Metaverse. PhotoChromic is gearing up to play a small yet pivotal role in its development. Over to you, 2022! Let’s do this!

About PhotoChromic

PhotoChromic introduces a unique use case for non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”) by integrating them with user identity, to develop a biomimetically managed model of Self-Sovereign Identity (“SSI”) on the Blockchain. Using NFTs, PhotoChromic aims to make identity programmable, verifiable, universally addressable, and digitally secured.

Powered by an ERC-20 token, $PHCR, running on the Ethereum blockchain, PhotoChromic addresses the current challenges faced by people the world over, as they pursue ownership over, and the ability to secure, their identity. PhotoChromic gives control and ownership of user identity back to the individual, where it belongs.

Learn more about PhotoChromic at:

Website | Whitepaper | Medium | Telegram | Telegram Announcement | Twitter