Private On-chain Biomapping (Biomapper) for enabling Sybil checks on EVM
As you navigate the seemingly endless expanse of the internet, imagine if your very existence, your unique biological blueprint, becomes your universal passport. Picture a world where transactions, contracts, and access points are authenticated not by forgettable passwords or elusive private keys, but by your biometrics. This is no mere fantasy, it's the potential of Humanode Biomapper (private on-chain biomapping) that is poised to redefine online verification and transaction authorization by enabling Sybil resistance in the blockchain ecosystem.
Although the Humanode chain has a built-in capability to check if an account is a validator on Humanode i.e. if they have an active Biometric authorization. This functionality has been available on the Humanode chain since Testnet 2 and it allows any individual to check who has an active bioauthorization on the Humanode chain.
However, currently, the Humanode team is developing a mechanism to map users' biometrics to Humanode EVM addresses (0x.... addresses). This will not only allow the individuals i.e. the end users to verify anyone who has an active bio authorization but also allows developers to integrate this technology and enable Sybil-resistance in their applications. The practical implications of this are extensive and transformative.
In this article, we will break down the concept of private on-chain biomapping and understand its implications in detail. So let’s get started.
What is Biomapper?
At the heart of Biomapper is a mechanism that encrypts and secures biometric data on the blockchain using cryptobiometrics. This data will be linked to a unique identifier in the form of an EVM address (0x…). The biometric data referenced here is facial biometrics inherently unique to every individual.
The mechanism ensures that the individual's unique facial 'signature' can be used to prove the uniqueness and liveness of the user, while the actual biometric data remains completely private, securely encrypted in Confidential Virtual Machines. Consider it like zero-knowledge proof (ZKPs), where the system can verify the authenticity of the information without needing to know the specific information itself.
In simple terms, the Humanode team will be deploying smart contracts on Humanode EVM that will be used to map users' facial biometrics to the Humanode EVM addresses. And the developers will be able to interact with this smart contract to verify if a Humanode EVM address is linked to a unique human being. This will enable Sybil-resistance in the applications that interact with this smart contract to verify the uniqueness and liveness of the users.
Think of your biometric data as a library book. This book doesn't leave the library; it stays secure and private. However, it has a unique identifier - a 'call number' that allows other individuals or systems to verify its existence and status.
Humanode's protocol is the 'librarian' that protects the data (the book) and only allows access to the 'call number' (the unique identifier). It ensures that the privacy of the data isn't compromised while providing a unique and irrefutable uniqueness and liveness check.
Use cases of private on-chain biomapping
Users can choose to connect their biometrics with their Humanode EVM addresses. This offers an extra layer of security and authenticity. For Dapp developers who are creating applications on EVM-compatible chains, this feature is especially beneficial. They can integrate this smart contract to:
Authorize Transactions: Ensuring that the genuine account owner is executing specific actions. This can help prevent unauthorized access or fraudulent activities.
Unique User Sign-ups: By mapping biometrics, Dapps can ensure a one-account-per-person system, thus maintaining Sybil resistance.
Furthermore, private on-chain biomapping isn't just limited to Dapps. Even traditional Web2 applications can harness its potential. This technology can revolutionize various platforms:
P2P Marketplaces: By guaranteeing that users are genuine, it can create a safer environment for peer-to-peer transactions.
DeFi Apps: As the decentralized finance sector handles significant assets, ensuring the authenticity of users and transactions is paramount. From retroactive airdrops and LP rewards to insurance and DAOs managing the treasury.
Play to Earn (P2E) Games: To maintain fairness and prevent multiple fake accounts, games can utilize biomapping. This ensures that rewards and game mechanics are not exploited.
In essence, Biomapper provides a foundational layer of trust across various applications, from Dapps to Web2 platforms, ensuring secure, fair, and genuine user interactions.
To interact with the Biomapper smart contract, the developers will have three options:
Deploying applications on the Humanode EVM
This smart contract provides a wealth of opportunities for Decentralized Applications (DApps) developed on the Humanode EVM and the individuals who want to perform transactions on the Humanode EVM. The DApps can query the Humanode chain directly to verify user transactions or simply verify the user’s uniqueness to stop sybil attacks without needing to access the biometric data itself. This approach bolsters security, privacy, and efficiency in any DApp, facilitating smoother operations and user interactions.
Furthermore, this mechanism can be utilized to enhance security in the deployment of smart contracts. These self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code lines could be authorized using the users' biometrics, reducing the potential for fraud or misrepresentation. Importantly, all of this can be done without incurring any additional fees.
Similarly, individuals can interact with the smart contract to submit their transactions.
Interacting with smart contracts through a Bridge
Humanode's compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) expands the potential applications of on-chain biomapping. DApps built on any EVM-compatible chain can leverage private on-chain biomapping for verifying the uniqueness and liveness of a user. And to do that they will either have to get a Humanode EVM address with some tokens for fees or if they don’t want to get the Humanode EVM address, they can simply utilize a bridge. Using a bridge with cross-chain messaging devs can make any smart contract on another chain interact with the biomapper contract on our chain. However, there will be a certain bridge transfer fee that both the individuals and Dapps operating on other chains have to pay.
Offchain API integration
Apart from using the bridge, DApps developed on EVM-compatible chains as well as Web2 apps can also benefit from Humanode's Biomapper through API integration. This method is off-chain and involves the use of tools like Subquery or Graph, which are third-party services that provide access to this data fairly easily but also in a decentralized manner.
While the exact specifics of these APIs have yet to be defined, the potential use cases are clear. Devs without extensive web3 knowledge can build DApps that access the list of addresses belonging to unique users, ensuring that the advantages of private on-chain biomapping can be realized across a wide range of platforms and applications.
In conclusion, Humanode's private on-chain biomapping represents a significant leap forward in our journey. By providing a secure, private, and irrefutable method of checking uniqueness and liveness for enabling Sybil resistance, it opens up a wealth of new possibilities for DApps and smart contracts.