Decentralized storage
Decentralization is at the heart of idOS
Last updated
Decentralization is at the heart of idOS
Last updated
User data in idOS is stored in a decentralized databse to ensure data privacy, security, and availability. Unlike centralized databases or self-hosted storage solutions, the idOS provides encrypted, structured, and private data storage across a distributed network of nodes.
Traditional identity solutions often rely on either local storage in identity wallets or centralized cloud databases. The idOS takes a different approach by using a decentralized network of nodes, offering key advantages:
100% Data Availability – Data is always accessible, even if a single node or service provider goes offline.
Crypto Wallet Compatibility – Users can manage access to their data using supported cryptographic wallet, ensuring seamless interaction with web3 applications without needing to download additional software.
Advanced Data-Sharing Rules – idOS allows users to define access permissions, enabling transparent sharing with third parties while maintaining full control.
Enhanced Security & Privacy – Data is stored end-to-end encrypted with the User key pair, ensuring that even node operators cannot access user data.
This approach strikes a balance between sovereign control (as seen in self-hosted wallets) and real-world usability (as expected in enterprise-grade identity solutions).
The idOS Private Network utilizes Kwil, a decentralized relational database, for storing and managing identity data. Compared to other decentralized storage solutions, Kwil offers:
Compliance with GDPR’s Right to Be Forgotten – Unlike immutable blockchain-based storage, Kwil enables users to delete or modify data when necessary, aligning with global privacy regulations.
Relational Database Structure – Unlike IPFS or raw decentralized file storage, Kwil supports structured queries and complex relationships between data records, essential for identity verification and KYC use cases.
Customizable Features for Identity Management – Kwil is tailored to the specific needs of identity systems, offering flexible permissioning, structured indexing, and efficient retrieval of user credentials.
This makes Kwil an optimal solution for storing and retrieving Verifiable Credentials within the idOS ecosystem.
The idOS decentralized storage system is built on three core components:
1. Authentication – Users authenticate using cryptographic keys (e.g. Ethereum, NEAR, XRPL or other wallets), ensuring self-sovereign control over their data.
2. Consensus – All modifications to the relational database require distributed agreement among participating nodes, ensuring data integrity and resistance to unauthorized changes.
3. Relational Database Structure – Instead of storing identity data as flat files or documents, idOS uses a structured relational model, making it possible to query and manage user data efficiently.
Currently, all idOS nodes are operated by the idOS team, ensuring stability and security in the early stages. However, we are actively onboarding new node operators in H1 2025, with a long-term goal of fully decentralizing the network.
If you are interested in running a node and contributing to the privacy-preserving identity ecosystem, reach out to us to learn more about technical requirements and incentives for operators.
