The Use of Blockchain Technology in Identity Storage and Management

Abstract

Evolvement of Blockchain following the introduction of the internet has thrown up many issues and its application across the broad spectrum of human activities, among which is full-proof identity management system. The current centralized data system of national identity services is replete with a whole gamut of operational risks for parties involved due to the issue of trust and lack of safeguards to protect the system from being compromised or hacked. Decentralized identity management system is a solution to the challenges, adopting a user-focused approach that gives full control of an identity back to the individual; and using Nigerian’s National Identity Management System as a case study, a blockchain technology-based identity management system is proposed. Prototypes for identity construction, alteration, certification and reporting are presented. Cyber-attackdeterrence and developing of smart contract protocol model for identity management, as well as attribute disclosure are other contributions to the use of blockchain.

Keywords

• blockchain
• identity management
• decentralized identity management system
• nigeria’s national identity management system