DID method is used to resolve a DID to DID Document. To use a DID with a particular distributed ledger or network requires defining a DID method in a separate DID method specification.
A DID method specifies the set of rules for how a DID is registered, resolved, updated, and revoked on that specific ledger or network.
This design eliminates dependence on centralized registries for identifiers as well as centralized certificate authorities for key management—the standard pattern in hierarchical PKI (public key infrastructure). Because DID records are on a distributed ledger, each identity owner may serve as its own root authority—an architecture referred to as DPKI (decentralized PKI).
Examples:
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did-jolo is a DID method implementation for anchoring DIDs using the Ethereum Rinkeby Testnet, and persisting DID Documents on IPFS.
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did-elem is an implementation of the Sidetree protocol that uses the Ethereum blockchain as the ledger layer and IPFS as the Content-addressable storage layer.
Last Updated: 10 November 2021