Humanity Protocol, a privacy-first blockchain identity network and high-profile rival to Sam Altman's Worldcoin, fired up its mainnet, debuting a system that connects familiar Web2 credentials to decentralized Web3 services using zero-knowledge transport layer security (zkTLS). The introduction comes just months after the Hong Kong-based startup raised $20 million in a funding round co-led by Jump Crypto and Pantera Capital, lifting its valuation to $1.1 billion . Humanity Protocol’s zkTLS technology allows users to prove they have viewed verifiable information, such as job listings or airline loyalty status, without revealing the underlying document or page. Sensitive data never leaves the user’s browser, avoiding the privacy concerns that have riddled biometric approaches, including Worldcoin’s iris-scanning model. Initially, travelers are able link frequent-flyer and loyalty accounts directly to their “Human ID,” creating a portable reputation layer usable across both Web2 and Web3 applications. The network also supports financial, educational and professional credentials. In future, it plans to roll out node infrastructure in new regions as well as venturing into on-chain ticketing and decentralized governance. “Our mainnet release turns decentralized identity into practical infrastructure,” said founder and CEO Terence Kwok. “With zkTLS now live, anyone can confirm who they are and what they have achieved across multiple platforms, yet no central party ever sees their personal information.” By relying on cryptographic proofs rather than physical biometrics, Humanity Protocol positions itself as a more privacy-conscious alternative to Worldcoin and other “proof-of-human” projects. The network’s architecture allows developers to build Sybil-resistant social platforms, reputation-based marketplaces and AI “humanity checks” without collecting or storing sensitive user data. A Sybil attack occurs when a person or entity creates multiple fake identities within a network, often to gain a reward like an airdrop or disproportionate control of a network's operations.
