Introduction
Navigating complex addresses can pose a significant barrier for users. Celo, with its commitment to making financial tools accessible to anyone with a mobile phone, has introduced a lightweight identity layer that simplifies mobile identity verification. In this post, we’ll explore Celo’s innovative approach to identity, the role of attestation services, and the powerful Plumo light client protocol.
A Human-Centric Approach to Identity on Celo
Celo’s unique identity layer enables a decentralized mapping of phone numbers to wallet addresses, making it easier for users to transact with one another using familiar identifiers like their address book. This human-centric approach removes the need for lengthy hexadecimal-character-long strings and offers a more intuitive user experience.
Attestation Services: Securing Phone Number Verification
The Attestation Service is an integral part of Celo’s identity protocol. It sends SMS messages on behalf of users to verify their access to a phone number and securely map it to a Celo account. This service helps maintain privacy while offering a convenient way to link phone numbers with wallet addresses.
ODIS: Retrieving On-Chain Identifiers
The On-Chain Decentralized Identifier Service (ODIS) plays a crucial role in associating phone numbers with Celo addresses. It retrieves the on-chain identifier for a given phone number, allowing the address to be looked up on-chain and simplifying transactions for users.
Plumo: Revolutionizing Celo’s Light Client Protocol
Celo has introduced Plumo, an advanced ZK-snark-based light client protocol that significantly reduces the overhead for dApps connecting to the blockchain. Plumo is an astounding 1.7 million times lighter than Ethereum’s light client protocol, enabling dApps to sync with the chain in a fully trustless manner.
cLabs is currently hosting the first server that generates Plumo snark proofs daily, but anyone can run one of these servers. Additionally, Celo has launched a WebAssembly (WASM) based library that allows web apps to verify Plumo proofs, sync with the chain, and verify the state fetched from full nodes on the network.
Conclusion: Embracing Mobile Identity Verification
Celo’s lightweight identity layer, attestation services, and the innovative Plumo light client protocol contribute to a more user-friendly and accessible experience for individuals using the platform. By simplifying mobile identity verification and offering a more intuitive approach to blockchain transactions, Celo is breaking down barriers and driving adoption for a wide range of users.