At Seed Hypermedia, we believe the web needs decentralized, open, and neutral identities. Not as an independent technical feature, but as a foundational element of how we collaborate, publish, and govern online on the web.
We are building a system where identity doesn’t come from a central server, but from your relationships and the shared trust they establish, just like in real life, where you vouch for someone because you know them, not because a corporation said so.
Why Web of Trust?
Traditional identity systems depend on:
Centralized databases (Google, Facebook, Microsoft)
Federated authorities (e.g., email providers, OAuth)
Platforms with moderation control (forums, social media)
These systems centralize power. They define who you are, what you can say, and whether you’re “allowed in.”
In contrast, Web of Trust enables:
Peer-to-peer identity bootstrapping
Local trust decisions, not global approval
Scalable, human-readable authentication
Moderation and governance from the edge
It’s how you would build social structure in a bar, a community, or a village. Not a digital prison.
References
Wikipedia Introduction
PGP
Keybase
Petnames
Secure Scuttlebutt SSB
Do you like what you are reading? Subscribe to receive updates.
Unsubscribe anytime