did:peaq

The Peaq DID Method (did:peaq) is a decentralized identifier system built on the Peaq Network's blockchain infrastructure, which uses the Substrate framework. This DID method is specifically designed to enable machine-to-machine interactions, with a particular focus on enabling autonomous transactions and identity management for connected devices.

The method supports standardized interfaces for device discovery, transaction processing, and claim verification while maintaining self-sovereignty and privacy. Initially developed with vehicle charging stations in mind, the system is being expanded to accommodate broader machine-to-machine communication scenarios.

Key features include:

• Blockchain-based identity management using the Peaq Network
• Built-in payment capabilities through integrated service endpoints
• P2P communication support via libp2p networking
• Metadata management for machine characteristics
• Support for both Ed25519 and sr25519 cryptographic operations

The system implements a comprehensive security model that protects against common attack vectors while maintaining privacy by avoiding storage of personal identifying information on-chain.

DID Generation and Structure

DIDs follow the format:

did:peaq:<id-string>

where id-string consists of alphanumeric characters (1-9, A-H, J-N, P-Z, a-k, m-z)

Resolution Process

DID resolution involves:

1. Using the readAttribute extrinsic function
2. Providing the public key/address as the name parameter
3. Retrieving the associated DID document

Key Management and Security Features

• Cryptographic Support:

  • Primary support for Ed25519 and sr25519 algorithms
  • Immune to cache-timing and hyperthreading attacks
  • Protection against side-channel vulnerabilities

• Security Measures:

  • Mandatory document signatures
  • Traceable signing key custody chain
  • Protection against replay and man-in-the-middle attacks

Unique Characteristics

• Service Endpoints:

  • #payment - For transaction processing
  • #p2p - For peer-to-peer communication
  • #metadata - For machine characteristic data

• Privacy Features:

  • No personal identity information stored on-chain
  • Selective disclosure capabilities
  • Verifiable credentials support

Technology Stack

• Core Infrastructure:

  • Substrate blockchain framework
  • libp2p networking protocol
  • Protobuf encoding for metadata

• CRUD Operations via extrinsics:

  • createAttribute
  • updateAttribute
  • readAttribute
  • removeAttribute