Abstract
The Open Identity Protocol (OIP) is a schema and trust framework for programmable identity in autonomous, agent-driven digital environments. It redefines identity as an evolving ledger of intent, authorship, permission, and responsibility—designed to support human users and their autonomous systems alike.
As compute becomes distributed and intelligent agents act independently on behalf of users, identity must shift from a static credential into a dynamic model of ownership and authority. OIP enables users to delegate power to agents, form contracts, receive payments, participate in governance, and build reputational capital—all within a privacy-first, progressively disclosed identity container.
Rooted in the Lockean tradition of property rights and authorship, OIP asserts that intelligent outputs—whether financial transactions, compute contributions, or AI-generated content—must be traceable to an identity. That identity should be programmable, pseudonymous, interoperable, and sovereign. OIP is the passport for this new era of digital agency.
Introduction & Motivation
Identity is the cornerstone of every social, financial, and legal interaction. Yet most digital systems still rely on antiquated models—email-password pairs, centralized account control, or static, opaque credentials. These are insufficient in a world where:
- Autonomous agents execute trades, publish content, and make decisions.
- Distributed compute networks remunerate users for idle processing power.
- Users want to remain pseudonymous yet still enter into enforceable agreements.
- Financial flows, asset ownership, and governance decisions must be programmable.
Core Concepts
The Open Identity Protocol (OIP) introduces a progressive, schema-first identity model built to support:
- Intent Ledger - Recording and verifying authenticity of actions and outputs
- Delegation Registry - Allowing a user to authorize agents to act on their behalf
- Reputation Scorecard - Accruing verifiable reputation over time
- Contract Signatory - Creating, signing, and enforcing agreements
- Payment Route - Linking identities to payment endpoints
- Trust Gateway - Enabling privacy and portability with pseudonymity
Vision
OIP is not merely a technical standard. It is a reassertion of digital agency, returning control to users in a system increasingly intermediated by automation. Like Locke's view of property emerging from labor and authorship, OIP asserts that participation in digital systems—through contribution, creation, or coordination—should entitle individuals to ownership, recognition, and rights.
As autonomous agents become more prevalent in our digital ecosystems, the need for a robust identity framework that bridges human intent with machine action grows ever more critical. OIP aims to be that bridge, enabling a future where human creativity and machine capability seamlessly coexist.