FEATURES OF DISTRIBUTED LEDGER TECHNOLOGYThe potential of blockchain technology in identityBlockchain, or distributed ledger technology (DLT), is a technology protocol that allows data to be shared directly between entities in a network, without intermediaries. DLT has certain key features that hold potential for identity systems: 60 WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM | 2016 Low transaction cost Distributed ledgers eliminate the need for intermediaries and therefore lower the cost of completing transactionsImmutability Tra n s a c t i o n history is maintained and verified through the network, preventing the falsification of informationConvenience Record‐keeping and transactions can be executed from any device, on‐or offline Illustrative: Applications of DLT in digital identity DLT has potential in identity applications as an information storage and transfer mechanism within different archetypes. DLT could be applied as a distributed protocol, giving users the ability to store their identity attestations on a ledger and expose them to different RPs, or in a centralised system where the ledger would be owned by a single entity that would provide a consolidated view of the users’ attestations for use in transactions, but would not reveal the nature of the credentials. Many initiatives are currently underway that explore the true potential for DLT in identity systems; this report will not explore this topic in detail.
