Vitalik Buterin: Taiwan's single ZK identification of World ID is at risk and must move towards multiple digital identities.

World ID has gained popularity, with a focus on individual identification becoming a prominent topic. However, Vitalik Buterin proposed a "pluralistic identity" solution, attempting to find a compromise between privacy and compliance. (Background: Is OpenAI requiring KYC? Users must upload identification documents and personal headshots to use the gpt-image-1 new model API.) (Context: Why is it a good thing that Satoshi Nakamoto's identity remains a mystery?) World ID has accumulated over 10 million registrations within a year, allowing users to prove "I am a real and unique person" by scanning their irises across various apps. A single ID brings convenience while pushing the freedom of pseudonymous identities to the margins. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin published on June 28, proposing the concept of "pluralistic identity (pluralistic identity)" in hopes of creating a safe distance between privacy and regulation. Rise of ZK identity and privacy alerts Zero Knowledge (ZK) proofs allow users to verify specified attributes without disclosing personal data, seen as the foundation for the next generation of digital identity. World ID, EU eID, and Taiwan's planned digital identity cards all attempt to meet multiple scenarios using the same ZK ID. World ID users have already surpassed 10 million. If all community accounts and transaction records are tied to a single ID, once a platform or government requests the private key, users will find it difficult to escape, increasing the risk of national-level surveillance and suppression of dissent. Buterin's pluralistic identity blueprint Buterin argues that identity verification should not be entrusted to a single entity. Government documents, social graphs (Circles), and on-chain reputation systems can issue credentials, weaving a more resilient network. The cost of applying for an additional ID rises according to a near-square curve, meaning "N IDs require an N² cost." Creating 100,000 fake accounts in bulk would become expensive enough to deter Sybil attacks while allowing users to switch identities in different contexts. He likens pluralistic identity to using separate accounts for work and gaming: "Work emails won't appear in gaming chat rooms, isolated but can prove authenticity when needed." "Pluralistic identity is the best feasible solution that balances privacy and inclusiveness." Three expected benefits First is privacy and inclusiveness: Multiple sources of credential issuance allow stateless individuals or those lacking official documents to access digital finance; malicious users applying in bulk will face nonlinear costs. Second is compliance for DeFi and Web3: Exchanges can request KYC/AML information from specific ID endpoints when necessary, without leaking other details. Third is decentralized governance: Multiple credential issuers can check and balance each other, reducing the risk of a single provider denying service or abusing data. Challenges and key observations for implementation On a technical level, pluralistic identity needs to connect cross-chain and ZK algorithms, with resource costs not to be ignored; on a regulatory level, whether countries will accept "coexistence of multiple IDs" remains to be seen; on a market level, businesses need to define interoperability standards, and users need to learn when to switch identities. As Web3 approaches mainstream by 2025, Buterin's proposal offers a middle path for the "privacy-compliance" tug-of-war, and its implementation depends on whether governments, enterprises, and developers can collaborate to lower ZK thresholds and establish universal standards. Related reports Buterin fights back against the multiverse: a completely anonymous society cannot function! "Multidimensional identity verification" is necessary. Buterin praises the airdrop revolution: fascinating applications for verifying blockchain identities, with Worldcoin facing four significant challenges. MicroStrategy retorts against "Bitcoin quantum attacks"; Michael Saylor: worry not, if it becomes true, Google and Microsoft will fail first. <Buterin: Taiwan and the singular ZK identity of World ID pose risks and must move towards pluralistic digital identities> This article was first published in BlockTempo, the most influential blockchain news media.