What is Humanity Protocol (H)?

By CMC AI
09 December 2025 08:21AM (UTC+0)

TLDR

Humanity Protocol (H) is a decentralized identity network using palm biometrics and zero-knowledge proofs to verify human users in Web3 without compromising privacy.

  1. Privacy-first digital IDs – Uses palm scans and ZK proofs to confirm users are human while keeping data private.

  2. Sybil resistance – Combats bots via Proof-of-Humanity (PoH) consensus, securing decentralized apps.

  3. Interoperable ecosystem – Integrates with Web2/Web3 services for credential verification, financial access, and reputation systems.

Deep Dive

1. Purpose & Value Proposition

Humanity Protocol tackles Sybil attacks (fake identities) in Web3 by replacing centralized identity models with self-sovereign identity (SSI). Users prove they’re human via palm scans stored locally, then generate cryptographic proofs for apps needing verification (Humanity Protocol Docs). This enables:
- Universal access: Targets onboarding 1B+ users with minimal friction.
- Privacy: No biometric data is stored centrally; users control what’s shared.
- Real-world use cases: Partners like Mastercard use Human IDs for credit/loan access via open banking (CoinMarketCap News).

2. Technology & Architecture

Built on a zkEVM Layer 2 blockchain, the protocol combines:
- Palm-scan biometrics: Less invasive than iris scans (vs. Worldcoin).
- Zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs): Verifies credentials without exposing raw data.
- Decentralized storage: User data remains encrypted and user-controlled.
Mainnet launched in August 2025 with zkTLS for linking Web2 credentials (e.g., airline loyalty programs) to Web3 wallets (Yahoo Finance).

3. Tokenomics & Governance

The H token (10B total supply) powers:
- Network fees: Payments for identity verification and app integrations.
- Governance: Voting on protocol upgrades and treasury allocations.
- Staking: Securing the network and earning rewards.
Early concerns about token distribution (29% to insiders) were partly addressed via Fairdrop airdrops prioritizing verified humans (The Defiant).

Conclusion

Humanity Protocol reimagines digital identity as a privacy-preserving public good, blending biometrics and cryptography to counter bots while enabling seamless cross-platform interoperability. With partnerships expanding into finance and travel, can it balance scalability with its decentralized ethos as adoption grows?

CMC AI can make mistakes. Not financial advice.