Tree of Trust: Building the Future of Secure Verification with Blockchain
14 Jun 2024
14 Jun 2024 by Luke Puplett - Founder
Embracing Blockchain: The Future of Trust with Ethereum Attestation Service
At Zipwire, we're always on the lookout for cutting-edge technologies that can enhance security and trust in our services. One of the most exciting developments in this space is the Ethereum Attestation Service (EAS), which allows us to put a verifiable "stamp" on the blockchain against a person's wallet. This stamp can include data such as a Merkle Tree root hash, enabling selective disclosure of information that is cryptographically authenticated.
What is the Ethereum Attestation Service?
The Ethereum Attestation Service is a powerful tool that leverages blockchain technology to create secure and verifiable attestations. An attestation is like a digital stamp of approval or verification that can be recorded on the blockchain. When we create an attestation for a person’s wallet, we can include specific data, such as a Merkle Tree root hash.
Understanding Merkle Trees
A Merkle Tree is a clever data structure that allows for efficient and secure verification of content. It works by breaking down data into smaller chunks, hashing each chunk, and then hashing those hashes together to form a single root hash. This root hash can be used to verify the integrity and authenticity of the entire set of data.
Selective Reveal and Cryptographic Authentication
One of the standout features of using a Merkle Tree in our attestations is the ability to perform selective reveals. This means that individuals can choose to disclose only certain pieces of information from the attested data, while still being able to prove that these pieces are part of the original set. This selective reveal is cryptographically authenticated, ensuring that the information is legitimate and trustworthy.
Example: Age Verification Without Full Disclosure
Let's consider an example to illustrate the power of selective reveal. Imagine someone needs to verify their age for age consent purposes but does not want to disclose their full identity. Here’s how it works:
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Attestation Creation: Zipwire uses the Ethereum Attestation Service to create an attestation for the person's passport. This attestation includes a Merkle Tree root hash of the passport data, such as name, date of birth (DoB), passport number, and nationality.
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Selective Reveal: When the individual needs to prove they are of legal age, they can choose to reveal only their DoB from the attested data. The Merkle Tree structure allows them to disclose this specific piece of information while keeping their name, passport number, and other details hidden.
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Cryptographic Authentication: The revealed DoB is cryptographically authenticated as part of the original attestation, providing verifiable proof that the person’s age is within the required range without revealing any other personal information.
The Future of Trust
Blockchain technology, and specifically the Ethereum Attestation Service, represents a nascent but rapidly growing field that is set to revolutionize how trust is established in both society and business. The ability to create verifiable attestations on the blockchain will form the ground truth for trust in the coming years, providing a secure and transparent way to verify identities, transactions, and more.
Zipwire's Vision
At Zipwire, we're eager to dive into this emerging technology and contribute to building the fabric of trust for the future. We're planning to integrate wallet creation and attestations into our services, enabling our users to benefit from the enhanced security and trust that blockchain technology offers.
Why This Matters
By leveraging the Ethereum Attestation Service, we can provide our users with a robust and secure way to verify their identities and other important data. This not only enhances trust but also simplifies processes that rely on verified information. For example, businesses can confidently onboard new employees, verify customer identities, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
Get Ready for the Future
The integration of blockchain technology into Zipwire is just the beginning. As this technology continues to evolve, we are committed to staying at the forefront of innovation, ensuring that our users have access to the most secure and reliable verification methods available.
Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this exciting journey to build a future where trust is verifiable, transparent, and secure. At Zipwire, we're not just keeping up with the future—we're helping to shape it.
For more information about how blockchain technology and the Ethereum Attestation Service will benefit you, feel free to get in touch with us today!
That's lovely and everything but what is Zipwire?
Zipwire Collect simplifies document collection for a variety of needs, including KYC, KYB, and AML compliance, plus RTW and RTR. It's versatile, serving recruiters, agencies, people ops, landlords, letting agencies, accountants, solicitors, and anyone needing to efficiently gather, verify, and retain documented evidence and ID.
Zipwire Approve is tailored for recruiters, agencies, and people ops. It manages contractors' timesheets and ensures everyone gets paid. With features like WhatsApp time tracking, approval workflows, data warehousing and reporting, it cuts paperwork, not corners.
For contractors & temps, Zipwire Approve handles time journalling via WhatsApp, and techies can even use the command line. It pings your boss for approval, reducing friction and speeding up payday. Imagine just speaking what you worked on into your phone or car, and a few days later, money arrives. We've done the first part and now we're working on instant pay.
Both solutions aim to streamline workflows and ensure compliance, making work life easier for all parties involved. It's free for small teams, and you pay only for what you use.