Personas is a digital identity management feature introduced by Radix as part of its Q2 2023 network upgrade to Babylon. It represents a significant shift in user authentication and identity management in the context of Web3 technologies.
Overview
Personas were developed to address the limitations of traditional Web2 and emerging Web3 authentication systems. In Web2, users often rely on a centralized system of passwords and logins, leading to security risks and privacy concerns. The advent of Web3 introduced wallet-based logins that, while more secure and trustless, do not offer flexibility in information sharing and are still tied to what users own rather than who they are.
Functionality
Radix Personas aim to separate a user's online identity from their asset-holding accounts, enhancing privacy and user control. This decentralized system uses a component known as "identity" on the Radix ledger. It allows users to access decentralized applications (dApps) based on their identity rather than their assets. This approach contrasts with centralized systems like Passkeys, where control over access is held by a single entity, and traditional Web3 wallets, where all wallet contents are shared upon connection.
Process
The login process with Radix Personas involves several steps:
- Connection to a dApp on Radix using Radix Connect.
- The user's Radix Wallet sends a unique cryptographic data piece.
- The dApp verifies this data against identity data on the Radix Network.
- Upon successful verification, the user logs in without needing a password.
User Control and Privacy
Radix Personas provide users with control over the information shared with websites, differing from both Web2 and traditional Web3 solutions. Users can have multiple personas and associate various personal data with each, deciding what information to share with each service.
Impact
The introduction of Personas by Radix is seen as a step towards enhancing user sovereignty, privacy, and control in the digital domain, addressing some of the critical challenges faced in both Web2 and Web3 identity management systems.