provets

Provets are a class of portable, autonomous hardware tokens designed to store and execute cryptographic proofs used for authentication and verification in digital systems. They are intended to enable secure, privacy-preserving interactions by letting users prove possession of attributes or rights without disclosing underlying data.

The term provet is a contraction of “proof device” and was popularized in security research and industry discussions as privacy-preserving identity and access protocols gained prominence. In practice, provets emerged as compact replacements or supplements to traditional security keys, offering both credential storage and on-device proof computation.

Technically, provets encompass tamper-resistant hardware with a secure execution environment and a protected nonce source. They can perform cryptographic operations, generate zero-knowledge proofs, and present attestations to verifiers. Many provets support offline operation, meaning proofs can be generated without constant network access, while also offering standard interfaces for interaction such as USB, NFC, Bluetooth, or QR-based handoffs. They are designed to interoperate with existing authentication workflows and can be integrated into corporate, government, and consumer ecosystems.

Applications for provets include strong access control for facilities and networks, privacy-preserving identity verification for online services, digital health credentials, and secure credentials in Internet of Things deployments. They are valued for reducing data exposure since proofs verify attributes without revealing the underlying data, and for enabling portable, user-controlled credentials across multiple services.

Variants of provets range from compact, consumer-grade tokens to higher-assurance devices with stronger cryptographic suites and management capabilities. Standards and compatibility efforts focus on secure element interoperability, proof formats, and integration with common authentication protocols.