Why this
Trust breaks when identity is just an API key.
Agents act for humans, for tools, and for other agents. When identity is just a bearer token, there is no durable proof of who controls the agent or what it is allowed to do. DIDs and Verifiable Credentials make identity portable, verifiable, and auditable.
Built on W3C DID Core and VC Data Model 2.0.
Bearer keys become identity
If the key leaks, the agent is compromised. There is no cryptographic proof of control beyond possession of a secret.
Tokens get copied, not verified
When identity is a bearer token, any party holding it can impersonate the agent with no cryptographic proof of ownership.
Verification requires humans
If every directory or service needs manual approval before trusting an agent, identity can't move with the agent.
What DIDs + VCs change
Proof of control, not just possession
DIDs bind identity to cryptographic keys. Challenges are signed, not guessed.
Credentials make trust portable
Ownership and capability VCs travel with the agent across systems.
Interoperable by design
Standards-based identity makes verification consistent everywhere.
The minimal trust flow
- 1.Agent presents its DID and receives a challenge.
- 2.Agent signs the challenge with its private key.
- 3.Server verifies and issues a short-lived JWT.
- 4.Agent uses the JWT for protected routes.
Build verifiable agents now
Use DIDs and VCs to make agent trust explicit, portable, and machine-verifiable.