Beyond the DID Resolver

In my previous post, I explored the shortcomings of current DID resolution mechanisms and introduced the concept of a Decentralized Universal Resolver Service (DURS). The goal was simple: create a resolver architecture that doesn’t depend on external RPCs, centralized nodes, or opaque services. In other words, a resolver that truly embodies the decentralization promise of Self-Sovereign Identity.

But resolving DIDs is just one piece of the puzzle. To achieve true trust in the SSI ecosystem, we need to think about resolution as a function embedded within a broader verifiable infrastructure. The next evolution is to make sure that every component—from credential verification to presentation validation—operates on the same level of transparency and decentralization as DURS sets out to achieve.

From Centralized Access to Distributed Trust

Most DID methods today depend on trusted intermediaries for resolution. Even when the ledger is decentralized, access to it often is not. External endpoints (RPC providers, gateway nodes, or API layers) introduce points of vulnerability where data can be filtered, delayed, or even manipulated.

DURS changes this by distributing the responsibility of resolution among independent nodes that communicate over peer-based networks. Each node can independently fetch, verify, and cache DID documents, creating redundancy and reducing the need to trust a single source. The outcome is a trustless, verifiable access layer where identity data remains verifiable, even across multiple DID methods.

A Custom Consensus Layer for DID Resolution

At the core of DURS, it is possible to design a lightweight blockchain or DLT layer with a custom consensus mechanism optimized for DID operations rather than general-purpose transactions. This consensus would not focus on storing all DID documents directly, but instead on anchoring cryptographic proofs of resolution events or updates, ensuring verifiability across the network.

Consensus could be achieved using mechanisms such as Delegated Proof-of-Stake (DPoS) or Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT)-based voting, depending on the network’s size and desired throughput. Unlike traditional blockchains, this system would prioritize rapid synchronization between resolvers instead of transaction volume. Each node could verify a DID document by cross-checking it with the consensus data layer, reducing the chances of delivering tampered or outdated information.

By embedding this layer, DID resolution becomes more than just a lookup procedure—it becomes a verifiable, consensus-backed process where correctness is enforced by distributed computation.

Incentivizing Decentralization with Tokenomics

For DURS to sustain itself and grow, it must have an incentive structure that rewards honest participation. Introducing tokenomics allows node operators to earn compensation for contributing resources, bandwidth, and computing power. At the same time, consumers of the service—issuers, holders, and verifiers—could pay minimal usage fees or stake tokens to prioritize or authenticate their requests.

This economic model would encourage more participants to run resolver nodes, expanding the network’s decentralization. By doing so, DURS would function similarly to a distributed marketplace for trust services. Token rewards could be tied to measurable criteria such as uptime, response accuracy, and verification reliability. Nodes displaying malicious behavior or inconsistent results could lose their stake, maintaining honesty and performance.

Such a structure not only ensures sustainability but aligns every participant’s incentives with the network’s security and reliability goals.

Towards Composable SSI Services

Once we acknowledge that DID resolution should not rely on a centralized service model, we can extend this thinking to the rest of the SSI stack. Credential issuers, verifiers, and holders should be able to operate seamlessly without relying on proprietary components.

This is where a modular, composable design becomes important. Each piece—resolvers, credential registries, presentation verifiers—should interoperate like protocols in a larger ecosystem rather than as siloed products. DURS could act as one of these base protocols, providing an open and secure interface for identity resolution that any SSI service could plug into.

A Path Forward

DURS is more than a technical idea. It’s a mindset shift toward rethinking where trust lives in decentralized identity. Building distributed infrastructure that ensures verifiable resolution without introducing new central authorities is the next logical step for SSI to reach real-world maturity.

This vision requires cooperation across the community: DID method maintainers, wallet developers, and infrastructure providers. Together, we can build not just better resolvers, but better foundations for digital trust itself.