About
Proof of Humanity is a decentralized identity protocol built on blockchain technology that maintains a permissionless, sybil-resistant registry of verified humans. Unlike centralized identity systems, PoH uses a combination of social vouching, video submission, and decentralized dispute resolution through Kleros Court to ensure that each registered profile represents a unique, real person. To register, users submit their name, a photo, and a short video alongside a refundable deposit. An existing PoH member then vouches for their authenticity. If no one successfully challenges the profile within the challenge window, the user is officially included in the registry. Disputed profiles are escalated to Kleros, where an independent panel of jurors evaluates the case against registry policies. Developers can integrate PoH into their dApps through a simple Solidity interface, querying whether a given wallet address belongs to a verified human. This opens the door to a wide range of use cases: fair one-person-one-vote governance, bot-free social platforms, equitable token airdrops, fraud-resistant certification systems, and inclusive credit scoring. PoH is particularly valuable for Web3 builders seeking to prevent Sybil attacks, ensure inclusive participation, and build trust into decentralized systems. The protocol also incentivizes community integrity by rewarding challengers who successfully identify and report fraudulent profiles. Early adopters can claim $PNK tokens as part of the platform's airdrop program.
Key Features
- Decentralized Identity Verification: Users submit a name, photo, and short video to prove their humanity without relying on any central authority, keeping identity ownership fully self-sovereign.
- Sybil Attack Prevention: The social vouching system and deposit mechanism ensure each registered address corresponds to exactly one unique real person, blocking bots and duplicate registrations.
- Kleros Court Dispute Resolution: Challenged profiles are reviewed by an independent panel of decentralized jurors on Kleros Court, ensuring transparent and tamper-resistant adjudication.
- Smart Contract Integration API: Developers can query verified human status directly on-chain via a simple Solidity interface, making it easy to gate dApp features to verified humans only.
- Incentivized Registry Integrity: Community members earn rewards by successfully challenging fraudulent or rule-violating profiles, creating a self-sustaining system for maintaining registry quality.
Use Cases
- Ensuring fair token airdrops by verifying each recipient is a unique real person and preventing bots or duplicate claims
- Enabling sybil-resistant on-chain voting and DAO governance where only verified humans can participate
- Building bot-free and troll-resistant social media communities where all participants are verified humans
- Linking professional certifications and credentials to verified individuals to prevent forgery and fraud
- Providing equitable credit scoring and financial access by verifying the real identity of applicants without centralized intermediaries
Pros
- Truly Decentralized: No central authority controls registration or verification decisions — the protocol is governed by community vouching and decentralized arbitration.
- Versatile Use Cases: PoH can be applied across governance, airdrops, social media, credit scoring, certifications, and any application that requires verified human participation.
- Developer-Friendly Integration: A clean Solidity interface makes it straightforward for Web3 developers to check human status and build PoH-gated features into their dApps.
- Early Adopter Rewards: The $PNK airdrop and staking incentives give early users meaningful economic participation in the ecosystem's growth.
Cons
- Deposit Required for Registration: Users must lock a refundable deposit to register, which may create a financial barrier for people unfamiliar with or lacking access to crypto assets.
- Requires Blockchain Knowledge: Registration and participation require a Web3 wallet and basic understanding of blockchain transactions, limiting accessibility for non-crypto-native users.
- Video Submission Friction: Mandatory video submission as part of the registration process may deter privacy-conscious users or those in regions with limited internet bandwidth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Proof of Humanity?
Proof of Humanity is a decentralized, sybil-resistant protocol that maintains a on-chain registry of verified unique humans. It uses community vouching, video submission, and Kleros arbitration to ensure each entry represents a real, distinct person.
How do I register on Proof of Humanity?
To register, submit your name, a photo, and a short video to the platform, lock a refundable deposit, and receive a vouch from an existing PoH member. If your profile is not successfully challenged within the review window, you are added to the registry.
What happens if my profile is challenged?
If your profile is challenged, the case is escalated to Kleros Court where an independent panel of jurors reviews it against the registry's policies. Depending on their verdict, your profile will either be included in or rejected from the registry.
How can developers integrate Proof of Humanity into their projects?
Developers can use the IProofOfHumanity Solidity interface to query whether a wallet address belongs to a verified human, check humanity expiration, retrieve humanity IDs, and access other registry data directly on-chain. Full integration documentation is available on Gitbook.
What are the main use cases for Proof of Humanity?
PoH supports a wide range of use cases including sybil-resistant voting and governance, fair one-per-person token airdrops, verified social media identities, fraud-resistant certification, equitable credit scoring, and self-sovereign identity for dApp logins.
