# Humanity Protocol’s Biometric and Zero-Knowledge Proof Identity Verification Gains Attention
Humanity Protocol is making waves with its decentralized identity verification system that leverages palm biometrics and zero-knowledge proofs (ZKP). This technology aims to enable seamless authentication both online and offline with a single digital ID, targeting reliable human verification in the AI era.
The protocol supports bot prevention, multiple account prevention, and a trust-based participation structure without storing personal information. Users can create a unique ID by scanning their palms, which then grants them access to various Web3 services and easy entry to offline events.
# Existing Digital Identities and Their Pitfalls
Traditional digital identities have relied heavily on Web2 platforms like Google and Facebook, which accumulate and store vast amounts of personal data, rendering them vulnerable to hacking and surveillance. In 2021, for instance, Facebook experienced a breach that exposed information from 533 million users.
Additionally, over 850 million people globally live without official IDs, resulting in exclusion from digital services. A striking revelation for 2023 showed that 47.7% of global internet traffic comes from non-human sources, increasing the risk of AI and bot-related fraud. Despite the growing need for decentralized identity (DID) systems, proving human authenticity has remained a challenge.
# Structure and Mechanics of Humanity Protocol: “Verification Without Personal Data Storage”
The system is built on a multi-module structure combining palm scans with zero-knowledge proofs. Users scan their palms through an app for registration, after which zkProofer nodes verify their identity. Verifiers stake H tokens, maintaining the network’s trust.
Initially, palm patterns are registered using smartphone cameras, with high-precision vein-based scanning to be introduced later. Vein-based scans boast an impressively low error rate of 0.00008%. All data is stored through decentralized storage solutions like IPFS, reducing the risk of personal data breaches.
Adhering to the ‘Privacy by Design’ principle, verifiers can determine the validity of a user’s identity without accessing the original data. Users also retain control over which information they share, maintaining authority over sensitive data.
# Applications, Competitors, and Challenges
The protocol demonstrates potential across various fields. It can ensure one UBI payment per individual, simplify on-chain KYC in DeFi, and prevent Sybil attacks in decentralized governance. Social media platforms can use it to enhance community trust by enforcing one account per person.
In practical applications like education, healthcare, voting, and ownership verification, the system enables forgery prevention, instant verification, and cross-border mutual recognition. Corporations can adopt this for digital access authentication and DID-based logins.
Unlike Worldcoin’s iris scan, Humanity Protocol uses a non-invasive palm authentication method, which is seen as more culturally acceptable and privacy-friendly. Its decentralized structure also enhances the reliability of verifications.
However, challenges remain, including hardware deployment, resistance to biometric data, and the onboarding of general users. Ongoing monitoring of regulations, hacking threats, and potential technological replacements is essential.
# $100 Million Funding Secured, Mainnet Transition Planned
Humanity Protocol has secured over $100 million in funding between 2024 and 2025, with major VC firms like Kingsway Capital, Pantera, and Jump participating. The project is currently conducting pre-registration and app-based palm authentication, with plans for a mainnet transition and NFT-based ID issuance in the future.
As the demand for ‘real human verification’ grows amid the proliferation of AI content, industry attention is focused on the practical adoption and corporate integration of this protocol.
