NuID, Inc.

NuID is an authentication API and decentralized identity platform designed for websites and applications. The company's core offering centers on "trustless authentication," a model that eliminates the need for servers to store user passwords or other authentication secrets. At the technical foundation of NuID's approach is zero-knowledge cryptography. Rather than transmitting a password to a server for verification, the user's device generates a cryptographic zero-knowledge proof of the secret. This proof is used to authenticate the user without any private credential data leaving their device. This architecture removes the server-side attack surface that enables credential breaches — a risk the company notes is responsible for 81% of hacking incidents. In addition to zero-knowledge proofs, NuID incorporates distributed ledger (blockchain) technology to further decentralize the storage and management of authentication credentials. This removes the need for users to trust any single party with their authentication data and gives users direct ownership over their credentials. NuID provides a developer-facing API and documentation to allow integration into existing applications. The platform supports standard login flows as well as WebAuthn, and is designed to accommodate both current web infrastructure and emerging decentralized identity ecosystems (web3). The company targets developers and businesses seeking to implement authentication without managing sensitive credential storage. NuID was recognized at RSA Conference 2019 and raised $2.5M in funding as reported by GeekWire in 2018. The company published a white paper outlining its broader vision for a decentralized identity layer for the internet.