From Working With Steve Jobs to Building Identity on Blockchain

During the Wolf of All Streets episode “From Working with Steve Jobs to Building Identity on Blockchain“, our CEO Phillip Shoemaker and podcast host Scott Melker share their experiences and insights within the digital world. Scott Melker is the host of the podcast and a well known cryptocurrency trader and investor. In this blog post, we will discuss the key insights and discussions that emerged from their conversation.

Here are some key takeaways from the episode: 

Phillip Shoemaker’s Background and Identity Challenges

Phillip Shoemaker and Scott Melker explore the challenges surrounding identity, drawing from Phillip’s experience working with Steve Jobs and building Apple’s App Store. During his time at Apple, Phillip became aware of the importance of digital identity and the need for innovative solutions. There is a problem with centralized databases storing user information, known as honeypots, where individuals have limited control over their data. Due to this realization, he began exploring digital identity and self-sovereign identity on the blockchain, hoping to empower individuals and organizations. This was the beginning of Identity.com.

The Power of Blockchain in Identity Management

Scott and Phillip explore how blockchain technology can revolutionize identity management. They discuss the decentralized nature of blockchain, which enables transparency, immutability, and enhanced security. By leveraging blockchain, individuals gain greater control over their identities and have the ability to verify and authenticate their information without relying on centralized authorities. As a result of this shift, individuals are empowered to take ownership of their identities, enhancing privacy, security, and user control.

Selective Disclosure, Privacy, and Security

Throughout the episode, Scott and Phillip explore the concept of selective disclosure, allowing individuals to share information selectively with trusted parties. Individuals should be able to control how their information is disclosed. As an example, Twitter and Facebook may hold our social identities, but who holds our legal identities? By empowering individuals to control their legal identities, Identity.com challenges this paradigm. Individuals can control their own personal information by utilizing self-sovereign identity on the blockchain.

Ownership and Autonomy

The importance of having ownership and control over identity data is emphasized. Phillip discusses the principle of “Not Your Keys, Not Your Identity,” aligning with the core principles of blockchain technology. This principle emphasizes that individuals should have full control over their identity data. Whoever controls the keys to their identity also controls their digital presence and transactions. They also mention the significance of wallet abstraction. This allows for the secure storage and recovery of identities, ensuring individuals’ autonomy and resilience in the digital realm.

At Identity.com, we have developed our own wallet abstraction called Cryptid. With Cryptid, you gain control and security over your funds and account. Traditionally, identifying yourself on the blockchain requires ownership of a single private key. However, Cryptid changes this by establishing an identity layer on the Solana blockchain. A Cryptid account exists between the user and their private keys, providing users with a world of new possibilities when it comes to managing multiple wallets and beyond. We believe in empowering individuals with the tools they need to exercise full ownership and autonomy over their digital identities.

Regulations, Compliance, and Identity Security

The conversation explores the significance of regulations and compliance in the identity space. Phillip discusses how Identity.com recognizes and adheres to relevant regulatory frameworks, such as Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations. They also highlight Identity.com’s involvement with the Web 3 ID Coalition, a group focused on getting the government involved in establishing rules and standards for decentralized identity. Bringing awareness to this space is part of the identity challenge. This collaborative effort aims to eliminate the concept of honeypots and foster a secure and trustworthy digital ecosystem. Compliance ensures that identity solutions not only prioritize privacy but also meet legal requirements.

Conclusion

The podcast episode “From Working with Steve Jobs to Building Identity on Blockchain” demonstrates Scott Melker and Phillip Shoemaker’s commitment to addressing identity and privacy challenges in the digital age. Their insights into identity, privacy, blockchain technology, and regulatory compliance offer a comprehensive understanding of the vision behind Identity.com.

To gain deeper insights into the concepts discussed, we encourage you to listen to the full podcast episode below: