Humanity Protocol is a decentralized identity protocol that functions as a zkEVM Layer 2 blockchain built with the Polygon Chain Development Kit. The project aims to establish a Sybil-resistant "human layer" for Web3 by using biometric verification to provide Proof of Humanity (PoH), enabling applications to distinguish between unique human users and bots. ^{[1] [2]}

Overview

Humanity Protocol was developed to address the challenge of digital identity verification and Sybil attacks in decentralized networks. A Sybil attack occurs when a single entity creates numerous fake identities to gain disproportionate influence. The protocol's core solution is a Proof of Humanity (PoH) consensus mechanism that leverages non-invasive palm recognition biometrics to verify that each participant is a unique individual. This verification is designed to be privacy-preserving through the use of zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs), which allow for authentication without storing or exposing raw biometric data. ^{[1] [3]}

The project is a collaborative effort involving the Human Institute, a research body focused on AI's societal impact, alongside Animoca Brands and Polygon Labs. ^[1] It operates on a Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) model, giving users control over their digital credentials. The protocol aims to serve as a foundational layer for various Web3 applications, including fair airdrops, one-person-one-vote governance systems, and regulatory compliance. The stated mission is to onboard one billion users to Web3 by providing a secure and user-centric identity framework. ^[2]

The protocol's infrastructure supports the creation of a "cross-platform reputation" by allowing users to aggregate verifiable credentials from both Web2 and Web3 sources. This includes academic records, professional experience, and financial data, which can be proven on-chain without revealing sensitive personal information. The system is designed to provide developers with the tools to build identity-aware applications that can filter out bots and ensure fair participation. ^[4]

History

Humanity Protocol's development and launch involved several key milestones and funding rounds. On May 15, 2024, the project announced it had raised $30 million in a seed funding round led by Kingsway Capital, with participation from investors including Animoca Brands, Blockchain.com, Hashed, and Shima Capital. This funding round established a private valuation of $1 billion for the project. Other notable investors identified in subsequent reports include Jump Crypto and Pantera Capital. ^{[1] [5]}

The project launched the first phase of its testnet on September 30, 2024, focusing on "Human ID reservation." The testnet reportedly attracted nearly 150,000 participants within its first week. The native token, $H, was scheduled for launch on June 25, 2025. Market data indicates the token recorded its all-time low price of $0.01799 on June 27, 2025. ^{[1] [6]}

Around July 2, 2025, Humanity Protocol acquired Moongate, a Web3 event-ticketing platform, to accelerate the real-world adoption of its identity technology. Concurrently, the "Humanity app" was launched on Android, allowing users to scan their palms for verification, with a reported 8 million users having pre-reserved their Human ID at the time of the launch. The protocol's mainnet went live on August 12, 2025, introducing a new user dashboard and the integration of zkTLS technology for enhanced privacy. ^{[5] [4]}

On October 22, 2025, the protocol announced a technical integration with Walrus Protocol to decentralize its "Human IDs" and store user data across decentralized nodes. Shortly after, on October 25, 2025, the project "emerged from stealth," an event highlighted by public support from Yat Siu of Animoca Brands. On the same day, the H token reached its all-time high price of $0.3887. ^{[7] [6]}

Technology

Humanity Protocol's technology stack is centered around providing secure, private, and decentralized identity verification.

Blockchain Architecture

The protocol is built as a zkEVM Layer 2 network using the Polygon Chain Development Kit (CDK). This architecture provides compatibility with the Ethereum ecosystem while offering scalability and lower transaction costs. The network is designed to support a high volume of identity verification transactions and smart contract interactions required for its various use cases. ^[1]

Proof of Humanity (PoH)

The core of the protocol is its Proof of Humanity (PoH) consensus mechanism, which relies on biometric verification to ensure each user is a unique human. The system employs a dual-layer palm recognition technology:

• Initial Verification: Users can perform an initial palm scan using the camera on a standard smartphone via the Humanity app.
• Enhanced Security: For higher-security applications, the protocol supports specialized hardware scanners ("Humanity Scanners") that use infrared technology for palm vein recognition, offering a more robust and difficult-to-forge verification method.

This biometric data is processed using zero-knowledge proofs to create a cryptographic representation of the user's identity without storing the raw palm print image, thereby preserving user privacy. ^{[1] [5]}

Privacy and Security

Privacy is a central design principle of the protocol, implemented primarily through two key technologies:

• Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs): ZKPs are used to verify a user's identity without revealing the underlying biometric data. This allows the system to confirm uniqueness while ensuring sensitive information remains private.
• zkTLS (Zero-Knowledge Transport Layer Security): Integrated at the mainnet launch, zkTLS is a technology developed in partnership with Reclaim that allows users to generate a ZK proof from a secure Web2 session (e.g., logging into a bank or university website). This enables users to prove specific claims—such as "I have sufficient funds" or "I graduated from this university"—without revealing any other personal data from the session. This technology acts as a bridge for bringing verified Web2 credentials into the Web3 ecosystem in a privacy-preserving manner. ^[4]

Verifiable Credentials and Data Storage

The protocol operates on a Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) model, where users have full control over their digital identity. It supports the issuance and management of Verifiable Credentials (VCs) for a wide range of attributes, including KYC/AML status, age, educational degrees, and professional licenses. To ensure data sovereignty, the protocol integrated with Walrus Protocol, a decentralized storage solution from the team behind the Sui Foundation. This allows all user data to be stored across decentralized nodes, making it user-controlled, highly available, and censorship-resistant. ^{[1] [7]}

Tokenomics

The native utility token of the Humanity Protocol is H, an ERC-20 token with a fixed total supply of 10 billion. The token is integral to the functioning of the protocol's ecosystem. ^[1]

Utility

The H token has several key functions within the network:

• Staking: Identity Validators are required to stake H tokens to participate in the network and earn rewards for verifying user data and issuing credentials.
• Governance: Token holders can participate in the protocol's governance by voting on proposals related to upgrades and strategic direction.
• Rewards: zkProofers, the verifier nodes that validate credentials using ZKPs, are compensated with $H tokens for their computational work.
• Fees: Users and applications pay fees in $H to access verification services on the network.
• Incentives: The token is used to incentivize user onboarding and other activities that contribute to the growth of the ecosystem.

Distribution

The total supply of 10 billion $H tokens is allocated to different segments of the ecosystem to support long-term development and community engagement. The distribution is as follows:

• Ecosystem Fund: 24.00% (2.4 billion)
• Early Contributors: 19.00% (1.9 billion)
• Identity Verification Rewards: 18.00% (1.8 billion)
• Foundation Treasury: 12.00% (1.2 billion)
• Community Incentives: 12.00% (1.2 billion)
• Investors: 10.00% (1.0 billion)
• Human Institute Strategic Reserves: 5.00% (500 million)

This allocation structure was designed to fund ongoing development, reward network participants, and foster a robust community around the protocol. ^[1]

Use Cases

Humanity Protocol's identity verification technology enables a range of applications across Web2 and Web3.

• Sybil-Resistant Distributions: The protocol allows for the creation of "fairdrops," ensuring that airdrops and other token distributions are allocated on a one-per-person basis to verified humans, preventing bots from claiming multiple shares.
• Decentralized Governance: By verifying unique personhood, the protocol can facilitate true one-person-one-vote systems for Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs), making governance models more equitable.
• Regulatory Compliance: The system can be used for privacy-preserving KYC/AML checks in DeFi and other financial applications, allowing users to prove compliance without sharing excessive personal data.
• Event Access and Ticketing: Through its acquisition of Moongate, the protocol enables frictionless, palm-based check-ins at events and a "one-person-one-ticket" system designed to combat scalping and fraud.
• Cross-Platform Reputation: Users can aggregate credentials from various platforms to build a comprehensive and portable digital reputation that can be used to access services requiring proof of experience, education, or financial standing.
• Identity Verification: The protocol allows users to prove specific attributes like age or residency for access to digital services without revealing their full identity.

These use cases leverage the protocol's ability to provide a trusted and decentralized layer of human identity. ^{[5] [4]}

Team and Backers

Humanity Protocol was founded by Terence Kwok, who serves as the CEO. The project is described as a collaborative effort between the Human Institute, Animoca Brands, and Polygon Labs. Key figures associated with the collaboration include Yat Siu, co-founder of Animoca Brands, and Sandeep Nailwal, co-founder of Polygon Labs. ^{[1] [7]}

The project is backed by a number of prominent venture capital firms. The $30 million seed round was led by Kingsway Capital and included participation from Animoca Brands, Blockchain.com, Hashed, and Shima Capital. Other publicly disclosed investors include Jump Crypto and Pantera Capital. ^{[1] [5]}

Partnerships and Acquisitions

To expand its ecosystem and real-world utility, Humanity Protocol has engaged in strategic partnerships and a key acquisition.

In early July 2025, Humanity Protocol acquired Moongate, a Web3 platform specializing in event ticketing and engagement infrastructure. Moongate had previously powered events for major industry names like TOKEN2049 and Binance Blockchain Week. The acquisition was aimed at integrating Humanity Protocol's Proof of Humanity technology directly into live events for applications such as palm-based entry and anti-scalping measures. ^[5]

On the technical side, the protocol has partnered with several key players. It integrated with Walrus Protocol, a decentralized storage solution from the team behind the Sui Foundation, to ensure user data is stored in a decentralized and user-controlled manner. ^[7] For the development of its zkTLS technology, Humanity Protocol partnered with Reclaim, a firm specializing in privacy-preserving data solutions. ^[4]