A Digital Identity Blockchain Ecosystem: Linking Government-Certified and Uncertified Tokenized Objects
Journal
Applied Sciences
ISSN
2076-3417
Publisher
MDPI AG
Date Issued
2025-08-01
Author(s)
Javier Gonzalez-Sanchez
Luis Alberto Morales-Rosales
Type
text::journal::journal article
Abstract
This paper presents a novel digital identity ecosystem built upon a hierarchical structure of Blockchain tokens, where both government-certified and uncertified tokens can coexist to represent various attributes of an individual’s identity. At the core of this system is the government, which functions as a trusted authority capable of creating entities and issuing a unique, non-replicable digital identity token for each one. Entities are the exclusive owners of their identity tokens and can attach additional tokens—such as those issued by the government, educational institutions, or financial entities—to form a verifiable, token-based digital identity tree. This model accommodates a flexible identity framework that enables decentralized yet accountable identity construction. Our contributions include the design of a digital identity system (supported by smart contracts) that enforces uniqueness through state-issued identity tokens while supporting user-driven identity formation. The model differentiates between user types and certifies tokens according to their source, enabling a scalable and extensible structure. We also analyze the economic, technical, and social feasibility of deploying this system, including a breakdown of transaction costs for key stakeholders such as governments, end-users, and institutions like universities. Considering the benefits of blockchain, implementing a digital identity ecosystem in this technology is economically viable for all involved stakeholders.
License
Acceso Abierto.
URL License
How to cite
López-Pimentel, J.-C., Gonzalez-Sanchez, J., & Morales-Rosales, L. A. (2025). A Digital Identity Blockchain Ecosystem: Linking Government-Certified and Uncertified Tokenized Objects. Applied Sciences, 15(15), 8577. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15158577
Table of contents
1. Introduction -- 2. Background and Related Work -- 3. The Digital Identity Model -- 4. Digital Identity Creation Through User Mechanisms -- 5. External Tokens -- 6. Digital Identity Prototyping -- 7. Proof of Concept -- 8. Analysis -- 9. Conclusions.