Attestations

Overview

An EthSign attestation on Sign Protocol

An attestation confirms and certifies the validity of a claim or assertion, such as a statement, event, or legal document. It supports verifiers in confidently accepting or rejecting claims. Sign Protocol implements attestations as digitally signed structured data adhering to a registered schema, stored securely on-chain or off-chain.

Evolution of Attestations

Attestations have evolved significantly, especially with the advent of computers and the internet. Historically, they involved physical seals or signatures. Today, they are structured data with digital signatures, driving Sign Protocol's work.

Components of an Attestation

How Sign Protocol attestations are structured in Solidity

An attestation in Sign Protocol includes:

• Schema: Defines the format and organization of data.

• Context: Provides additional details for insight.

• Digital Signature: Certifies the authenticity of the attester’s identity using asymmetric cryptography.

• Cryptographic Proofs: Prove data integrity, often without revealing the data itself (e.g., zero-knowledge proofs).

Storage of Attestations

Data locations available on Sign Protocol

Attestations are stored in repositories, with accessibility determined by the hosting platform. Sign Protocol supports:

1. Blockchain Systems (Onchain): Offer censorship-resistance, tamper-resistance, and global access. Examples: Ethereum, Optimism, Solana.

2. Data Storage and Information Exchange Systems (Offchain): Focus on data storage and sharing, with privacy measures. Examples: Google Drive, iCloud, Arweave, IPFS.

Applications

ZetaChain used TokenTable and Sign Protocol to perform a KYC-gated airdrop

Attestations are crucial for confirming and certifying claims, with applications in:

• Credit Scoring Systems: Assess creditworthiness based on payment attestations.

• Reward Distribution Systems: Distribute rewards based on performance attestations.

• Reputation Systems: Evaluate entities based on feedback attestations.

• Judicial Systems: Resolve disputes using attestations from witnesses.

Attestations reinforce trust systems, making them verifiable and trustworthy. Sign Protocol is designed to be a tool for navigating this landscape.

For more on the value of attestations, see our blog post: Attestations: A New Era of Trust and Verification.