tokeneid

Tokeneid is a term used to describe a token-based approach to digital identity in which identity attributes and access rights are represented as digital tokens on a blockchain or distributed ledger. In this model, an individual's identity is not a single centralized record but a collection of verifiable tokens that can be selectively disclosed to relying parties. The tokens may represent attributes such as name, age, or membership, and may be coupled with cryptographic proofs to enable verification without exposing underlying data.

Tokeneid builds on concepts of self-sovereign identity and verifiable credentials, leveraging decentralized identifiers (DIDs) to establish persistent, portable identifiers, and verifiable credentials to encode attestations from trusted issuers. Tokens can be minted, transferred, or delegated under user control, with revocation mechanisms to revoke credentials if needed. Privacy-preserving techniques such as zero-knowledge proofs can enable selective disclosure.

There is no single standard for tokeneid; implementations typically align with broader decentralized identity standards such as the W3C Verifiable Credentials and DIDs, and may apply blockchain token standards or bespoke smart contracts to manage token lifecycle. Interoperability remains a key challenge.

Potential use cases include digital onboarding, access control for physical or digital spaces, KYC/AML workflows, and progressive disclosure of credentials for employment or education, with advantages including user control, portability, and reduced data duplication. Critics point to governance, privacy risk, the possibility of data fragmentation, and regulatory uncertainty.

As a concept, tokeneid continues to evolve as part of the broader movement toward self-sovereign identity and tokenized data, with ongoing research into privacy, governance models, and practical deployment.