Decentralized Identifier
Decentralized Identifier.
A W3C-standardized identifier (RFC-quality spec since 2022) that doesn't depend on a central authority for issuance or resolution — instead anchored to a verifiable data registry like a blockchain, DLT, or distributed ledger.
The blockchain misconception: DIDs don't require a blockchain. did:web anchors to a regular HTTPS URL; did:key embeds the public key in the identifier itself; did:ion uses Bitcoin only as a timestamp anchor with off-chain operations. The "decentralized" in DID is about issuance and control, not necessarily about distributed-ledger storage. Method choice is a tradeoff between resolution cost, decentralization properties, and operational complexity.
Common questions
What's a DID and how does it differ from a traditional identifier?
Do DIDs require a blockchain?
How are DIDs used in EUDI Wallet?