161 : Humanity Protocol: A zkTLS-Powered Future for Private Identity in Web3

In this deep-dive episode, I explore Humanity Protocol, which officially launched its mainnet on August 8, 2025, with a $1.1 billion valuation backed by Jump Crypto and Pantera Capital.

At its core, Humanity Protocol is a privacy-first identity layer using zkTLS (zero-knowledge Transport Layer Security). It enables Web2 credentials—like your airline or hotel loyalty programs—to be verified and used in Web3 without exposing any personal data.

Forget iris scans and invasive biometrics—Humanity Protocol is challenging Worldcoin’s approach with cryptographic integrity and real-world usability.

I unpack:

• How zkTLS actually works

• Why identity in Web3 is broken (and how this fixes it)

• Use cases across DAOs, airdrops, and onchain reputation

• The real questions we should be asking about adoption and decentralization