Whether it's gaming airdrops or flooding governance votes, fake identities are distorting the future of
Web3.
Humanity Protocol is building the human layer of the decentralized internet with a breakthrough solution: Proof-of-Humanity.
It uses palm biometrics and zero-knowledge
cryptography to verify real humans without compromising privacy. From accessing
dApps to earning
Fairdrops, users can now prove their uniqueness with just a palm scan, privately, securely, and Sybil-resistant.
As of July 2025, more than 9 million users have joined Humanity Protocol's
testnet in under a year, as digital platforms face an identity crisis fueled by bots, Sybil attacks, and
AI-generated fakes.
Here’s everything you need to know about how Humanity Protocol's Proof-of-Humanity works and why it's becoming essential for Web3 and beyond.
What Is Proof-of-Humanity on Humanity Protocol?
Proof-of-Humanity (PoH) is a decentralized identity verification system from Humanity Protocol, founded by Terence Kwok, former CEO of Tink Labs, supported by the Humanity Foundation, Animoca Brands,
Polygon Labs, Pantera Capital, and Jump Crypto. Humanity Protocol raised $30 million in May 2024 at a $1 billion valuation and later secured $20 million more in January 2025, bringing its fully diluted valuation to $1.1 billion. Since the testnet launched in late 2024, it has issued over 4.7 million Human IDs in just the first few months.
It was created to tackle fake accounts, bot-driven exploits, and Sybil attacks that undermine fairness in airdrops, on-chain governance, and digital trust. Humanity Protocol solves this using palm biometrics combined with
zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs), allowing people to verify they’re human without revealing any personal information. The palm scan is converted into a non-reversible cryptographic template, ensuring privacy and security.
Once verified, users receive a Human ID: a privacy-preserving, reusable digital identity that can be used across decentralized apps and services. Whether you're claiming Fairdrops like the
Humanity Protocol airdrop, voting in a
DAO, or proving your age or education status, PoH enables secure and Sybil-resistant verification without exposing sensitive data.
Key Features of Proof-of-Humanity
• Privacy-Preserving: Humanity Protocol never stores your actual palm image. Instead, it transforms your scan into a one-way cryptographic template that cannot be reverse-engineered, ensuring your biometric data remains private.
• Sybil-Resistant: Each user can only register one unique Human ID, verified through palm biometrics. This prevents bots, fake profiles, and duplicate accounts from manipulating dApps, airdrops, or governance.
• Zero-Knowledge Verification: Instead of sharing sensitive data, users can generate cryptographic proofs that confirm facts, such as age,
KYC status, or credentials, without revealing the actual information.
• Self-Sovereign Identity: Your credentials, such as proof of humanity or education, are stored on-chain and controlled entirely by you. You decide who can access them, and when.
• Scalable: The infrastructure is built to support millions of verifications efficiently, leveraging a dedicated
Layer 2 blockchain optimized for identity operations and fast ZK proof processing.
What Makes Proof of Humanity Unique?
According to a report by Imperva, bots made up over 30% of all internet traffic in 2023, with bad bots accounting for 17.3%. In Web3 environments, bot activity can reach as high as 60%, significantly skewing reward systems and governance.
At the same time, research from the EU DisinfoLab and other watchdogs reported that over 20% of AI-generated misinformation in 2024 involved fake personas and synthetic media used in disinformation campaigns.
Proof-of-Humanity offers a privacy-first solution to these problems. By combining palm biometrics with ZKPs, Humanity Protocol ensures every verified identity is:
• Unique: One person = one Human ID, confirmed via biometric scan
• Verifiable: Confirmed on-chain without exposing any personal data
• Private: Biometric scans are never stored, only cryptographic templates are used
What makes Proof-of-Humanity stand out compared to traditional tools like CAPTCHA or KYC is its ability to operate seamlessly within Web3. It’s decentralized, secure, and privacy-preserving, letting users verify their humanity without revealing personal identity details or relying on centralized authorities. This makes PoH one of the most scalable and reliable tools to build trust, fight bots, and ensure fairness across decentralized networks.
How to Use Proof-of-Humanity and Join the Humanity Protocol Airdrop
Getting started with Humanity Protocol is simple, and taking the right steps now can qualify you for future Fairdrops and $H token rewards.
1. Register Your Human ID: Visit the Humanity Protocol testnet at testnet.humanity.org and reserve your nickname. This becomes your unique identity across the ecosystem.
2. Scan Your Palm: Use the Humanity Protocol mobile app to scan your palm. The image is processed into a cryptographic template to confirm you're a real, unique human. Your actual palm image is never stored.
3. Optional: Full Enrollment via Humanity Scanner: You can increase your verification level by enrolling with a Humanity Scanner, a special device that captures both palm print and vein data using infrared tech. These scanners are available at select events and provide stronger proof for advanced credentials.
4. Receive Verifiable Credentials (VCs): Once verified, you can receive credentials that confirm not just your humanity, but other data like age, education, or employment status. These are stored securely on-chain.
5. Stay in Control: You choose who can access your credentials. ZK Proofers (verifier nodes) confirm validity without seeing your private data, ensuring a privacy-preserving system at every step.
How to Claim the Humanity Protocol ($H) Airdrop
To become eligible for the $H token Fairdrop:
• Complete your Human ID registration and palm scan
• Earn Humanity Points (HP) by staying active on the testnet and referring others
• Follow Humanity Protocol’s official X and Discord channels for snapshot dates and airdrop claim instructions
The more verified and consistent your activity, the greater your potential $H Fairdrop rewards.
What Are the Real-World Use Cases for Proof-of-Humanity?
Proof-of-Humanity enables secure, verifiable interactions across both online and offline environments. Here are some real-world applications where it’s already making an impact:
1. Claiming Airdrops: Projects can ensure tokens are distributed only to verified, unique users, preventing bots from farming rewards. For example, Humanity Fairdrops allocate $H tokens based on user verification and activity.
2. Voting in DAOs: Decentralized organizations can implement true one-human-one-vote systems, stopping vote manipulation by fake accounts or whales with Sybil access.
3. Implementing Access Control: Palm-based verification allows entry into physical locations (offices, events) and digital platforms (apps, NFT communities) without usernames or passwords.
4. Completing KYC and Compliance Processes: Financial institutions can validate user identity using zero-knowledge proofs without storing or exposing sensitive documents, cutting onboarding time and reducing regulatory risk.
5. Confirming Identity in Healthcare: Patients can confirm their identity privately, ensuring accurate records while maintaining HIPAA/GDPR-level compliance. Future integrations could allow secure access to prescriptions or treatment histories.
6. Receiving Certifications in Education: Institutions can issue digital diplomas or certificates as verifiable credentials tied to a Human ID, allowing employers or other schools to validate them without third-party services.
Final Thoughts
Proof-of-Humanity (PoH) is emerging as a foundational technology for restoring trust in digital interactions. By combining palm biometrics with zero-knowledge proofs, Humanity Protocol offers a decentralized and privacy-preserving way to prove you’re a real person—without compromising control over your identity.
This innovation opens up a new frontier in Web3: fairer airdrops, secure DAO voting, compliant DeFi participation, and verifiable credentials across education, healthcare, and more. As $H token utilities expand, users can take part in the testnet, claim rewards through Fairdrops, and trade $H on BingX, where verified humans connect with real market opportunities.
That said, PoH is still evolving. Eligibility criteria for Fairdrops may shift, token prices may fluctuate, and it’s essential to use only official apps and wallets to protect your credentials and privacy. Stay informed and verified to make the most of what Humanity Protocol has to offer.
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