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Create a Decentralized Identity (DID)

A Decentralized Identifier (DID) is a self-sovereign digital identity that you own and control. Unlike traditional accounts (Google, Facebook, etc.), no company can suspend, modify, or revoke your DID. It is anchored on the Elastos Identity Chain (EID) and follows the W3C DID standard.

What Can You Do with a DID?​

  • Sign in to decentralized applications without passwords
  • Prove your identity with verifiable credentials
  • Control your data by deciding what information to share
  • Maintain one identity across multiple applications and services

Creating a DID in Essentials​

Essentials creates a DID for you automatically during wallet setup. To view and manage it:

  1. Open Essentials
  2. Go to the Identity tab
  3. Your DID is displayed along with any credentials you have added

Adding Credentials​

Credentials are verifiable pieces of information attached to your DID, such as:

  • Your name
  • Email address
  • Social media handles
  • KYC verification (from authorized providers)

To add a credential:

  1. Go to the Identity tab in Essentials
  2. Tap Add Credential or Edit Profile
  3. Enter the information you want to include
  4. Save and publish to the identity chain
tip

You choose what to share. Applications can request specific credentials, and you approve or deny each request individually.

Using DID to Sign In​

When a decentralized application supports DID login:

  1. The app displays a QR code or a connection request
  2. Open Essentials and scan the QR code (or approve the request)
  3. The app asks for specific credentials (e.g., your name)
  4. Review what is being shared and approve
  5. You are signed in without creating an account or password

DID on the Identity Chain​

Your DID is stored on the EID (Elastos Identity Chain), a dedicated blockchain for identity data. Publishing or updating your DID requires a small transaction on EID. Essentials handles this automatically.