A DID is a self-owned identifier of the shape did:method:identifier
— for example did:xrpl:rUm.... Unlike an email address or a username,
a DID is resolved cryptographically: there is no central registrar
that can take it away.
DIDs vs accounts
| Property | An exchange account | A DID |
|---|---|---|
| Who controls it | The exchange | You (keys) |
| What proves ownership | A password | A signature |
| Recovery story | Customer support | Your seed / multisig |
| Can it be revoked | Yes, unilaterally | No |
Verifiable claims
A verifiable claim (or credential) is a signed assertion about a DID, made by an issuer. Example: a regulated KYC provider signs a claim that says "did:xrpl:rUm... has passed Tier-2 KYC, expires 2027".
The credential is then: - presentable selectively — you reveal only the fields you choose, - verifiable offline — anyone with the issuer's public key can check it, - revocable — the issuer publishes a revocation list, not a recall.
Why this matters for crypto
Soulbound XLS-20 NFTs (like the Gopnik Academy certificates you are earning) are an early form of verifiable claim baked onto a public ledger. The cert proves you passed this exam — without the academy needing to host a centralised attestation API.