Setting Up a Decentralized Identifier (DID) System for Researchers

A Decentralized Identifier (DID) is a new type of globally unique, cryptographically verifiable identifier that an individual, organization, or thing can control without a central registry. In the context of Decentralized Science (DeSci), DIDs provide a foundational layer for researcher identity, enabling self-sovereign control over academic credentials, publication records, and data contributions. Unlike traditional systems like ORCID, which rely on a centralized database, a DID is anchored on a decentralized network like a blockchain or a distributed ledger, ensuring the identifier is persistent, resolvable, and independent of any single institution.

The core technical components of a DID system are defined by the W3C DID specification. A DID is a URI composed of three parts: the did: scheme, a method identifier (e.g., ethr, key, ion), and a unique method-specific identifier. For example, did:ethr:0xb9c5714089478a327f09197987f16f9e5d936e8a. This URI points to a DID Document, a JSON-LD file containing public keys, authentication mechanisms, and service endpoints. Researchers can use the keys in their DID Document to create Verifiable Credentials, such as cryptographically signed proofs of a PhD degree or a peer-reviewed publication.

To set up a DID, a researcher first selects a DID method compatible with their target DeSci ecosystem. Popular methods include did:ethr for Ethereum-based systems, did:key for simple key pairs, and did:ion for scalable Sidetree-based networks. Using a DID library like ethr-did-resolver or did-jwt, you can generate a key pair, create the DID, and register it on-chain. The following Node.js snippet demonstrates creating a did:ethr DID using the ethr-did library:

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import { EthrDID } from 'ethr-did';
const provider = // your Ethereum web3 provider
const keyPair = EthrDID.createKeyPair();
const ethrDid = new EthrDID({ ...keyPair, provider, registry: '0xdca7ef03e98e0dc2b855be647c39abe984fcf21b' });
console.log('DID:', ethrDid.did); // e.g., did:ethr:0x5B38Da6a701c568545dCfcB03FcB875f56beddC4

Once a DID is created, its corresponding DID Document must be made resolvable. This involves publishing the document to the network specified by the DID method. For did:ethr, the document is stored as a smart contract event on Ethereum. Resolver libraries fetch and parse this data. The DID Document enables verifiable interactions. For instance, a researcher can sign a dataset metadata file with their private key, and any peer can verify the signature using the public key listed in the resolved DID Document, establishing provenance without contacting a central authority.

Integrating DIDs into a DeSci platform involves building workflows for issuing and verifying credentials. A university (issuer) with its own DID can issue a Verifiable Credential attesting to a researcher's degree. The researcher (holder) stores this credential in a digital wallet (e.g., SpruceID's didkit). Later, when submitting to a decentralized journal, the platform (verifier) can request proof of the degree. The researcher presents the credential, and the journal verifies the issuer's signature and checks the credential status, all without exposing unnecessary personal data.

The primary benefits for DeSci are interoperability, reduced administrative friction, and enhanced trust. DIDs create a portable identity layer across funding platforms (e.g., Gitcoin), data repositories (e.g., Ocean Protocol), and publishing venues. Challenges remain, including key management responsibility for researchers and the evolving landscape of DID methods. However, by implementing a DID system, research communities can build a more open, collaborative, and credential-rich scientific infrastructure, moving away from siloed institutional databases.

A Decentralized Identifier (DID) is a new type of globally unique identifier that enables verifiable, self-sovereign digital identity. Unlike traditional usernames or emails tied to centralized registries, a DID is controlled by the identity holder, typically via a cryptographic key pair stored in a digital wallet. For researchers, this creates a portable, privacy-preserving foundation for managing credentials like institutional affiliations, publication records, and dataset access permissions without relying on a single issuing authority. The core specifications are maintained by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

Before generating a DID, you must establish your local development environment. Core prerequisites include Node.js (v18+) and a package manager like npm or yarn. You will also need a DID method library; for this guide, we use did:key and did:ethr for simplicity and Ethereum compatibility, respectively. Install the essential packages: npm install @veramo/core @veramo/credential-w3c did-jwt-vc ethr-did-resolver. Veramo is a popular JavaScript framework for creating and managing verifiable data, while the resolver libraries allow your system to interpret different DID methods.

The foundation of any DID system is the identity wallet, which stores private keys and signs verifiable credentials. Using Veramo, you can programmatically create a wallet and generate your first DID. The example below initializes an agent with an in-memory key management system and creates a did:key identifier, which is derived directly from a public key.

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import { createAgent } from '@veramo/core';
import { KeyManager } from '@veramo/key-manager';
import { KeyManagementSystem } from '@veramo/kms-local';

const agent = createAgent({
  plugins: [
    new KeyManager({
      store: new MemoryKeyStore(),
      kms: { local: new KeyManagementSystem() },
    }),
  ],
});

const identifier = await agent.didManagerCreate({ provider: 'did:key' });
console.log('New DID:', identifier.did);

For researchers interacting with Ethereum-based applications or smart contracts, an Ethereum DID (did:ethr) is often more practical. This method anchors identity to an Ethereum address, allowing for on-chain verification of credential status. To create one, you must configure your agent with the Ethereum DID resolver and provide a network name (e.g., 'mainnet' or 'sepolia'). You will also need control of an Ethereum account; for testing, a private key from a wallet like MetaMask works. This setup enables the creation of credentials that can be validated against the Ethereum blockchain for trust.

With a DID created, the next step is to issue and verify Verifiable Credentials (VCs). A VC is a tamper-evident credential whose authorship can be cryptographically verified. A researcher's university might issue a VC attesting to their PhD, signed with the institution's DID. Your system can create a sample credential using your new DID as the issuer. Veramo provides plugins to create a JSON-LD format VC, sign it with your wallet's private key, and output a JWT (JSON Web Token) or JSON-LD Proof. This credential can be shared with journals or data repositories for instant, trustless verification.

Finally, integrate your DID system into a research workflow. Consider a use case: submitting a paper to a decentralized academic journal. Instead of uploading a PDF and manually entering affiliation details, you could present a Verifiable Presentation—a package of VCs (your degree, institutional membership) signed by your DID. The journal's smart contract or server can automatically resolve your DID, verify the credentials' signatures and issuance status, and grant submission access. This eliminates redundant profile forms and reduces fraud. For persistence, migrate from in-memory storage to a secure database like SQLite or PostgreSQL for your agent's keys and identifier records.

A Decentralized Identifier (DID) is a new type of globally unique identifier that an individual, organization, or thing can control without relying on a central registry. For researchers, this means creating a portable, verifiable digital identity that is not tied to a single institution's email or database. A DID is typically a URI, like did:key:z6MkhaXgBZDvotDkL5257faiztiGiC2QtKLGpbnnEGta2doK, that resolves to a DID Document. This document, often stored on a blockchain or other decentralized network, contains public keys, authentication methods, and service endpoints that enable trusted interactions.

Setting up a DID system begins with choosing a DID Method, which defines the rules for creating, resolving, updating, and deactivating a DID on a specific network. Popular methods for developers include did:key (simple, offline key pairs), did:ethr (Ethereum-based, managed by smart contracts), and did:web (hosted on a web domain). For research projects prioritizing verifiable credentials, the W3C DID Core specification is the foundational standard. You can generate a DID using libraries like did-jwt-vc (JavaScript/TypeScript) or ssi (Rust), which handle cryptographic key generation and document creation.

The core technical step is generating a DID Document. This JSON-LD document binds your public key to your DID and declares how you can prove control. For a did:key, the document is derived directly from the public key. For a did:ethr DID, the document is built from events emitted by an Ethereum Name Service (ENS) resolver contract. Here's a minimal example of a DID Document structure:

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{
  "@context": "https://www.w3.org/ns/did/v1",
  "id": "did:example:123456789abcdefghi",
  "verificationMethod": [{
    "id": "#key-1",
    "type": "Ed25519VerificationKey2018",
    "controller": "did:example:123456789abcdefghi",
    "publicKeyMultibase": "zH3C2AVvLMv6gmMNam3uVAjZpfkcJCwDwnZn6z3wXmqPV"
  }],
  "authentication": ["#key-1"]
}

For a functional system, you must implement DID Resolution to retrieve these documents. Use a universal resolver like that hosted by the Decentralized Identity Foundation (DIF) or run your own. The resolver takes a DID URI and returns the DID Document. Control is proven via cryptographic signatures. When a researcher needs to sign a Verifiable Credential or authenticate to a service, they use the private key corresponding to the public key listed in their DID Document's verificationMethod. This creates a verifiable link between the action and their decentralized identity.

Integrate your DID with Verifiable Credentials (VCs) to build a credentialing system. A researcher's DID becomes the issuer or holder in the VC data model. For instance, a university could issue a credential (degreeCredential) to a researcher's DID, and the researcher could then present that credential to a journal's submission system. The journal would resolve the issuer's DID to verify the signature. Libraries like Veramo or Trinsic provide frameworks to manage DIDs, issue VCs, and create Verifiable Presentations in a single system.

Key considerations for research deployments include key management (using secure HSMs or cloud KMS for private keys), choosing a DID method with sufficient decentralization for your trust model, and ensuring privacy by avoiding correlatable DIDs for sensitive studies. The system's utility scales with interoperability; using W3C standards ensures your researchers' DIDs can be used across a growing ecosystem of academic publishers, funding platforms, and data repositories.

A Decentralized Identifier (DID) is a new type of globally unique identifier that is controlled by the holder, not a central registry. Unlike traditional usernames or emails, a DID is anchored on a verifiable data registry, typically a blockchain or distributed ledger. For researchers, this creates a self-sovereign identity for academic credentials, publications, and peer reviews. The W3C's DID Core specification defines the standard data model, which includes the DID itself (e.g., did:example:123456) and an associated DID Document (DIDDoc) containing public keys and service endpoints.

Creating a DID involves generating a cryptographic key pair and registering its public component on a chosen DID method. A DID method is a specification for how DIDs are created, resolved, and managed on a specific network. Popular methods for developers include did:ethr (Ethereum), did:key (simple key material), and did:web (web domains). For a research system, did:ethr is often suitable as it leverages Ethereum's security and allows for easy integration with Verifiable Credentials. The creation process is off-chain; you generate the keys and construct the initial DIDDoc before anchoring it.

Here is a conceptual example of a DIDDoc for a researcher using the did:ethr method on the Sepolia testnet. The document is a JSON-LD object that declares the public key and a service endpoint for credential issuance.

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{
  "@context": ["https://www.w3.org/ns/did/v1"],
  "id": "did:ethr:sepolia:0x742d35Cc6634C0532925a3b844Bc9e...",
  "verificationMethod": [{
    "id": "did:ethr:sepolia:0x742d35Cc6634C0532925a3b844Bc9e...#controller",
    "type": "EcdsaSecp256k1VerificationKey2019",
    "controller": "did:ethr:sepolia:0x742d35Cc6634C0532925a3b844Bc9e...",
    "publicKeyHex": "02b97c30de767f084ce3080168ee293053ba33b235d7116a3263d29f1450936b71"
  }],
  "service": [{
    "id": "did:ethr:sepolia:0x742d35Cc6634C0532925a3b844Bc9e...#vcs",
    "type": "VerifiableCredentialService",
    "serviceEndpoint": "https://university-issuer.example.com/credentials"
  }]
}

DID Resolution is the process of retrieving the current DID Document from its underlying blockchain or system. A DID resolver is a software component that takes a DID string as input and returns the corresponding DIDDoc. The W3C DID Resolution specification defines this standard HTTP(S) interface. For did:ethr, a resolver queries the Ethereum smart contract associated with the DID method to fetch the latest document state. Libraries like ethr-did-resolver for JavaScript handle this process, abstracting the blockchain interaction.

To implement resolution in a Node.js application, you would use a resolver library and a provider for your chosen network. The following code snippet demonstrates setting up a resolver for the Sepolia testnet and resolving a DID to fetch its public document.

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import { Resolver } from 'did-resolver';
import { getResolver } from 'ethr-did-resolver';

// Configure the provider for the Sepolia network
const providerConfig = {
  networks: [
    { name: 'sepolia', rpcUrl: 'https://sepolia.infura.io/v3/YOUR-PROJECT-ID' }
  ]
};

// Create the resolver instance
const ethrDidResolver = getResolver(providerConfig);
const didResolver = new Resolver(ethrDidResolver);

// Resolve a DID
const did = 'did:ethr:sepolia:0x742d35Cc6634C0532925a3b844Bc9e...';
didResolver.resolve(did).then(doc => {
  console.log('Resolved DID Document:', doc);
});

This resolved document is then used by verifiers to check signatures on credentials issued to that DID.

For a production research system, key management and DID updating are critical. The private key corresponding to the DID's verification method must be securely stored, often in a hardware security module (HSM) or managed wallet. The DIDDoc can be updated—for example, to rotate keys or add new service endpoints—by sending a signed transaction to the did:ethr registry contract. This creates an immutable history of changes on-chain. The combination of secure creation, standardized resolution, and updatable documents forms the foundation for issuing and verifying tamper-proof academic credentials in a decentralized ecosystem.

A Decentralized Identifier (DID) is a globally unique, cryptographically verifiable identifier controlled by its owner, not a central registry. For a research institution, this means creating a persistent, self-sovereign identity for the organization (the issuer) and for individual researchers (the holders). Unlike traditional usernames, a DID is anchored on a public ledger like Ethereum or a permissioned blockchain, enabling trust without intermediaries. The core components are the DID Document, a JSON-LD file describing the DID's public keys and service endpoints, and the DID Method, a specification for how to create, resolve, update, and deactivate the DID on a specific network.

To implement this, you must first choose a DID Method. For Ethereum-based systems, did:ethr is common, using the account's public key. For a more research-focused, permissioned environment, did:key (for simple key pairs) or did:web (for web-hosted documents) are practical choices. The next step is DID creation and anchoring. This involves generating a public/private key pair and publishing the corresponding DID Document to your chosen verifiable data registry. For did:ethr, this is an on-chain transaction; for did:web, it's hosting a file at a predictable URL. The private key must be stored securely, often using a Hardware Security Module (HSM) or a cloud KMS for institutional issuers.

Here is a basic example of a did:web DID Document for a research lab, created using the did-resolver and web-did-resolver libraries:

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const { Resolver } = require('did-resolver');
const { getResolver } = require('web-did-resolver');
// Define the resolver for did:web
const webResolver = getResolver();
const resolver = new Resolver({
  ...webResolver
});
// The DID is derived from the domain hosting the document
const researchLabDID = 'did:web:research-institute.example.com';
// Resolve to get the DID Document
resolver.resolve(researchLabDID).then(doc => {
  console.log('DID Document:', JSON.stringify(doc.didDocument, null, 2));
});

The resolved document contains public keys for verification and service endpoints for credential issuance.

For the system to be functional, you must establish trust registries and public key infrastructure. This involves publishing your institution's official DID to a recognized list, allowing verifiers to confirm they are accepting credentials from a legitimate source. Researchers as credential holders will also need their own DIDs, which can be created using lightweight wallet software. The issuer's DID is then used to cryptographically sign Verifiable Credentials, creating an unforgeable link between the credential, the issuer's identity, and the subject's DID. This setup ensures the provenance and integrity of academic credentials, from peer-reviewed publications to lab certifications, are transparent and independently verifiable by any third party.

Verification is the core trust mechanism in a DID system. A Verifiable Presentation is the package a researcher submits, containing one or more Verifiable Credentials (VCs) and a proof from the holder's DID. The verifier, such as a journal or conference platform, performs a multi-step cryptographic check. First, it resolves the issuer's DID from the VC to obtain their public key. It then verifies the digital signature on the credential to confirm it was issued by that entity and hasn't been tampered with. Finally, it checks the presentation proof to ensure the submitting researcher is the legitimate holder of the credentials.

A critical part of verification is checking credential status and validity rules. The verifier must confirm the credential has not been revoked by the issuer, typically by checking a revocation registry like those used in Hyperledger AnonCreds or the W3C Status List 2021 specification. It also validates the credential's issuanceDate and expirationDate. For domain-specific rules, verifiers check claims against predefined policies. For example, a policy could require a VC asserting "degreeType": "PhD" from an accredited institution listed in a trusted registry before granting submission access.

Here is a simplified code example using the did-jwt-vc library to verify a JWT-based Verifiable Credential. The verifier needs the issuer's DID document (obtained via resolution) and the credential's JWT string.

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import { verifyCredential } from 'did-jwt-vc';

const verificationResult = await verifyCredential({
  credential: credentialJwt,
  resolver: didResolver // Function to fetch DID Documents
});

if (verificationResult.verified) {
  console.log('Credential is valid. Issuer:', verificationResult.payload.iss);
  // Check custom business logic against verificationResult.payload.vc.credentialSubject
} else {
  console.log('Verification failed:', verificationResult.error);
}

This code validates the signature and JWT structure. Additional checks for revocation, expiration, and claim values must be implemented separately based on your policy.

For presentations, verification also ensures holder binding and optionally, selective disclosure. With Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), as used in AnonCreds or BBS+ signatures, a researcher can prove they hold a valid credential from a university without revealing the credential itself, only the specific claim (e.g., degreeType > Bachelor). The verifier cryptographically confirms the proof is derived from a valid, unrevoked VC issued by a trusted DID. This maintains privacy while enabling trust. Libraries like @mattrglobal/bbs-signatures facilitate this advanced verification.

To implement this in a research portal, you would create a verification service. This service defines verification policies (JSON objects specifying required credential types, trusted issuer DIDs, and claim constraints), integrates with a DID resolver, and performs the checks. The outcome is a binary decision: pass or fail. A pass grants the user (e.g., a researcher) access to submit a paper or join a peer-review pool. This automated, cryptographic gatekeeping replaces manual checks of PDF certificates, reducing fraud and administrative overhead.

Best practices for verification include caching DID documents to reduce resolution latency, logging all verification attempts for audit purposes, and clearly communicating failure reasons to users (e.g., "Credential expired" or "Issuer not recognized"). Always use up-to-date, audited libraries for cryptographic operations. The verification step transforms the decentralized identity system from a theoretical framework into a practical tool for automating trust in academic and professional research ecosystems.

A Decentralized Identifier (DID) is a cryptographically verifiable, self-sovereign identifier that is not controlled by a central registry. For research governance, DIDs allow participants to prove their unique identity and credentials—such as academic affiliations or publication records—without relying on a single platform. This is critical for preventing sybil attacks, where a single entity creates multiple fake identities to manipulate voting or funding decisions. DID systems enable a trust layer where a researcher's on-chain reputation is anchored to a verifiable off-chain identity.

The core technical components of a DID system include the DID document and verifiable credentials. A DID document, stored on a blockchain or decentralized network, contains public keys and service endpoints for authentication. Verifiable credentials are tamper-proof attestations (like a signed statement from a university) linked to a DID. For example, a researcher could hold a credential from did:web:harvard.edu attesting to their PhD. Protocols like the W3C DID Core specification and Verifiable Credentials Data Model provide the standards for implementation.

To integrate DIDs, you first need to choose a DID method compatible with your stack. For Ethereum-based projects, did:ethr (from the Ethereum ERC-1056 standard) or did:pkh (public key hash) are common. For a simple setup, you can use a library like ethr-did or did-jwt. The following code snippet shows how to create and resolve a did:ethr identifier using the ethr-did library:

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import { EthrDID } from 'ethr-did';

// Create a DID from an Ethereum key pair
const keypair = EthrDID.createKeyPair();
const did = new EthrDID({...keypair, chainNameOrId: 'mainnet'});

console.log(did.did); // e.g., did:ethr:0x1234...

// Resolve the DID document
const resolver = new Resolver({...getResolver({networks: [{name: 'mainnet', rpcUrl: 'https://mainnet.infura.io'}]})});
const didDocument = await resolver.resolve(did.did);

Once DIDs are established, the next step is issuing and verifying credentials for researchers. A credential issuer (like a university or professional organization) signs a JSON-LD document containing claims about the DID subject. The researcher stores this credential in a digital wallet (e.g., MetaMask with Snaps or a specialized wallet like SpruceID's didkit). During governance participation—such as submitting a proposal or voting—the application can request a selective disclosure proof. The user presents only the necessary proof (e.g., "I have a PhD") without revealing the entire credential, preserving privacy.

Integrating this DID layer into your governance smart contract is the final step. Instead of using simple Ethereum addresses as voter IDs, your contract should accept verifiable presentations. A common pattern is to implement a registry that maps a user's DID to a unique, non-transferable Soulbound Token (SBT) or a uint256 identity hash. When a user interacts with the governance contract, they must provide a signature from their DID's private key and a zero-knowledge proof (ZK proof) of a valid credential. This ensures each vote is linked to one proven, non-sybil identity.

For production systems, consider using existing infrastructure to reduce complexity. Projects like Ceramic Network offer composable data streams for DID documents, while SpruceID's didkit provides cross-platform credential handling. Always conduct an audit of your credential schema and revocation mechanism. The goal is to create a system where reputation is portable and trust is minimized, enabling fair and resilient decentralized governance for scientific communities.

Your system's foundation is now in place. You have a DID document anchored to a blockchain like Ethereum or Polygon, which serves as the root of trust. You can issue Verifiable Credentials (VCs) for credentials like institutional affiliation or peer review status, and researchers can present them as Verifiable Presentations (VPs). The next step is to integrate this system into your actual research workflows. Consider building a simple web interface for your lab that allows members to request, store, and present their VCs, connecting to their wallet (e.g., MetaMask) for authentication.

To enhance your system, explore advanced features. Implement revocation mechanisms using a registry or the StatusList2021 specification to invalidate compromised credentials. For selective disclosure, integrate BBS+ signatures to allow a researcher to prove they are affiliated with an institution without revealing the specific credential's JSON data. You should also establish a governance framework for your DID method, documenting who can issue certain credential types and how disputes are handled.

Finally, test your system's interoperability. Use the W3C DID Core Test Suite to verify your DID resolver's compliance. Issue a credential and have a researcher present it to an external verifier built with a different library, such as didkit or veramo. The ultimate goal is for credentials issued by your lab to be usable across other academic platforms, moving towards a decentralized academic reputation system that reduces administrative overhead and gives researchers control over their professional identity.