Decentralizing Identity: MicroStrategy's Bitcoin ID Protocol

The Birth of MicroStrategy Orange

MicroStrategy, led by its co-founder and Executive Chairman Michael Saylor, has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative known as the MicroStrategy Orange Decentralized Identity protocol. This open-source protocol aims to revolutionize digital identity by anchoring it in the world's most dominant blockchain, Bitcoin.

The Three Pillars of MicroStrategy Orange

At the recent MicroStrategy World conference in Las Vegas, Saylor introduced the Orange protocol, emphasizing the need for decentralized identity and identifiers. According to Cezary Raczko, MicroStrategy's executive vice president of engineering, Saylor made a compelling case for integrating digital identity with the Bitcoin blockchain, leveraging its security features.

While the announcement came as a surprise to many, Saylor had previously hinted at MicroStrategy's exploration of the identity and authentication space. Last year, he expressed interest in Ordinals, a protocol launched in January, and its potential to inspire software innovations. Saylor highlighted the security advantages of Bitcoin over traditional enterprise systems, suggesting that innovations built on the cryptocurrency could elevate security standards to new heights.

Ordinals are inscriptions of content onto individual satoshis that can be tracked and held by users

Redefining Security with MicroStrategy Orange

The MicroStrategy Orange protocol comprises three core components, as outlined by Raczko. At its core is a cloud-based service for issuing identifiers to users within organizations. Additionally, the platform offers prepackaged applications designed to run on the MicroStrategy Orange framework. Raczko emphasized that the Orange software development kit (SDK) would facilitate seamless integration of these capabilities into various applications and systems.

Explaining the process using email as an example, Raczko detailed how public and private keys generated with MicroStrategy Orange would be written using the Ordinals protocol. This approach ensures that only data related to decentralized identity (DID) is stored on the Bitcoin blockchain, leveraging the Segregated Witness (SegWit) feature for enhanced efficiency.

Once a user's identity is confirmed, they get a special decentralized ID and a matching set of public and private keys. This data is then recorded on the Bitcoin blockchain, allowing users to safely send Orange-signed emails and participate in verified transactions.

Potential of MicroStrategy Orange

Raczko highlighted the vast potential of the MicroStrategy Orange decentralized identifier beyond email verification. It could be used to authenticate users on social media platforms or verify credentials such as text messages, college degrees, or medical records. With decentralized identity secured on the Bitcoin blockchain, users could experience a decentralized verification process, leading to a safer and more transparent digital environment.

Conclusion

MicroStrategy's groundbreaking method of decentralized identity marks a substantial advancement in bolstering security and confidence in online engagements. Harnessing Bitcoin's capabilities, the Orange protocol unlocks various applications, hinting at a future where digital identity finds stability in blockchain's unchanging groundwork.