Humanity Protocol, a blockchain-based identity network operating as a privacy-first alternative to Worldcoin, launched its mainnet with a $1.1 billion valuation and a promise to bridge Web2 credentials with Web3 services — without harvesting sensitive personal data.
The network’s debut revolves around zkTLS, a cryptographic method that lets users prove facts about their existing Web2 records — from bank KYC checks to airline loyalty status — to blockchain applications without sharing the underlying documents.
“Our mainnet release turns decentralized identity into practical infrastructure,” founder Terence Kwok said. “No central party ever sees [users’] personal information.”
Humanity Protocol emerged in early 2024 from the Human Institute with backing from Animoca Brands and Polygon Labs, billing itself as a less invasive answer to biometric-heavy identity projects. Early prototypes used palm-recognition technology alongside zero-knowledge proofs, but the mainnet puts zkTLS at the forefront, with palm scans remaining optional.
The project’s backers include Animoca’s Yat Siu and Polygon co-founder Sandeep Nailwal, who were listed as “Founding Humans” at launch. In January this year, it raised $20 million in a round co-led by Pantera Capital and Jump Crypto, cementing the $1.1 billion valuation now tied to the live network.
The obvious point of comparison is Worldcoin, co-founded by OpenAI’s Sam Altman, which uses proprietary “Orbs” to scan people’s irises and issue a global digital ID. That model has run into regulatory headwinds in multiple jurisdictions — including a temporary ban in Spain upheld by the country’s High Court and orders to delete biometric data after a GDPR ruling in Germany.
The project has come under fire from regulators and privacy watchdogs around the world, with critics raising alarms over the ethics of swapping cryptocurrency for sensitive biometric data. They argue that users are being nudged into giving up their iris scans without fully grasping the implications, a challenge to the concept of informed consent.
For its part, Humanity Protocol’s pitch is that it avoids those flashpoints entirely by keeping data local to the user’s device and relying on cryptographic attestations rather than centralized biometric storage.
With its mainnet live, Humanity Protocol plans to target sectors ranging from on-chain ticketing to Sybil-resistant governance systems. If it can attract developers and convince institutions to plug in Web2 data sources, it could offer a regulatory-friendly identity layer for blockchain ecosystems — and a credible alternative to projects built around sensitive biometric collection.
