System Participants

Issuer

The Issuer is the trusted entity that issues credentials to substantiate identity claims. The information on a credential is important, but it only truly counts when it's backed up by a trusted authority.

Issuer → Credential → Claim

Local government → Driver’s license → Age

School → Diploma → Academic Degree

Financial bureau → Credit report → Credit score

Country → Passport → Nationality

Holder

The Holder is the subject of the claims, represented by attributes that exist within credentials. The ability to independently validate these credentials directly correlates with greater autonomy in controlling access to this information.

Attribute → Credential → Holder

Age → Driver's License → You

Academic Degree → Diploma → You

Credit score → Credit Report → You

Nationality → Passport → You

Verifier

The Verifier offers a service and mandates that the user meets specific attribute requirements through credential verification. The focus is on authenticating user identity or claims to decide on service access.

Required Attribute → Verification Method → Verifier Service

Age → Driver's License Check → Verifier Service

Academic Degree → Diploma Verification → Verifier Service

Credit score → Credit Report Review → Verifier Service

Nationality → Passport Scan → Verifier Service