On Addressing Isolation in Blockchain-Based Self-Sovereign Identity

TL;DR

This paper investigates the challenges of blockchain siloing in Self-Sovereign Identity systems, proposing solutions for cross-chain interoperability, and analyzing security, privacy, and usability issues to enhance SSI's universality.

Contribution

It defines scenarios and requirements for cross-chain SSI, evaluates various interoperability models, and discusses security and usability considerations, advancing the understanding of blockchain isolation impacts.

Findings

Identified key challenges in blockchain interoperability for SSI.

Compared advantages and disadvantages of different cross-chain models.

Highlighted security and privacy considerations in cross-chain SSI.

Abstract

Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) grants holders full ownership and control of their digital identities, being the ultimate digital identity model. Operating in a decentralized manner, SSI enables the verification of claims, including privacy-preserving mechanisms. Blockchain, which can be used to implement a Verifiable Data Registry (VDR), is often considered one of the pillars of SSI, along with Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) and Verifiable Credentials (VCs). Unfortunately, blockchains are mostly siloed, affecting the interoperability and universality of SSI. We investigate the effect of blockchain isolation on blockchain-based SSI. We first define possible scenarios for cross-chain SSI and exemplify with real-life use cases. We then define specific requirements for cross-chain SSI and identify challenges, also in relation to the identified scenarios. We explore various solutions to achieve blockchain interoperability, with a focus on SSI. In particular, we identify the advantages and disadvantages of distinct cross-chain models for cross-chain SSI. Finally, we address the usability of cross-chain SSI and discuss security and privacy aspects, opening the way for future research.