W3C DID Method · did:trail · Open Source

Trust Registry for AI Identity Layer

TRAIL Protocol provides a vendor-neutral identity layer for AI agents, built on W3C Decentralized Identifiers. Designed to support EU AI Act compliance: verifiable, auditable, and interoperable. TRAIL Protocol liefert eine herstellerneutrale Identitatsschicht fur KI-Agenten, aufgebaut auf W3C Decentralized Identifiers. Entwickelt fur EU-AI-Act-Konformitat: verifizierbar, pruefbar und interoperabel.

Read the SpecSpezifikation lesen Technical WhitepaperTechnisches Whitepaper
W3C DID Registry - PR #669 submittedeingereicht
EUIPO Trademark - Classes 9, 35, 42 filedKlassen 9, 35, 42 angemeldet
Reference ImplementationReferenzimplementierung - 49 tests passingTests bestanden
Spec - v1.1.0 (Crypto Agility + Key RotationKrypto-Agilitat + Key Rotation)
Identity infrastructure for autonomous AI agentsIdentitatsinfrastruktur fur autonome KI-Agenten
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Decentralized IdentityDezentrale Identitat

Every AI agent gets a W3C-compliant DID (did:trail) anchored in a vendor-neutral trust registry. No vendor lock-in, no single point of failure.Jeder KI-Agent erhalt eine W3C-konforme DID (did:trail), verankert in einem herstellerneutralen Trust Registry. Kein Vendor-Lock-in, kein Single Point of Failure.

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Cryptographic TrustKryptografisches Vertrauen

Ed25519 signatures with DataIntegrityProof (eddsa-jcs-2023). Crypto-agile architecture ready for post-quantum migration.Ed25519-Signaturen mit DataIntegrityProof (eddsa-jcs-2023). Krypto-agile Architektur fur post-quanten Migration vorbereitet.

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AuditabilityPruefbarkeit

Full transparency on who built an AI agent, what it's authorized to do, and how it has performed. Cryptographically signed and verifiable.Volle Transparenz daruber, wer einen KI-Agenten gebaut hat, was er darf und wie er sich verhalten hat. Kryptografisch signiert und verifizierbar.

Example: did:trail IdentifierBeispiel: did:trail Identifier

// Organization DID (hash-suffix for collision resistance) did:trail:org:acme-corp-a7f3b2c1e9d04f5a // AI Agent DID (scoped to organization) did:trail:agent:sales-bot-e4d8f1a9b3c57d2e // Self-signed DID (local verification, no registry needed) did:trail:self:z6Mkf5rGMoatrSj1f4CyvuHBeXJELe9RPdzo2PKGNCKVtZxP
How TRAIL maps to regulatory requirementsWie TRAIL regulatorische Anforderungen erfullt
The EU AI Act (Regulation 2024/1689) requires transparency, traceability, and human oversight for AI systems. TRAIL provides the technical infrastructure to support these obligations. Der EU AI Act (Verordnung 2024/1689) fordert Transparenz, Nachvollziehbarkeit und menschliche Aufsicht fur KI-Systeme. TRAIL liefert die technische Infrastruktur zur Erfullung dieser Pflichten.
ArticleArtikel RequirementAnforderung TRAIL CapabilityTRAIL-Fahigkeit Status
Art. 13 Transparency: AI systems must allow human oversight and include sufficient transparency did:trail DID provides unique verifiable identity; TrailAIPolicyService enables machine-readable disclosure of AI system type and risk class DESIGN
Art. 14 Human Oversight: Providers must design high-risk AI with tools for effective oversight Verifiable Credentials create tamper-proof audit trail; trust score tracks behavioral consistency over time DESIGN
Art. 26 Deployer Obligations: Deployers must use systems in accordance with instructions KYB-verified identity links agents to accountable legal entities; revocation mechanism enables immediate suspension DESIGN
Art. 49 Registration: Providers must register high-risk AI in EU database TRAIL Registry serves as complementary technical registry alongside official EU database GAP
TRAIL is NOT the official EU AI database. Art. 49 registration required separately.
Art. 52 Transparency for Certain AI: Users must be informed when interacting with AI TRAIL DID can be presented in real-time; TRAIL Badge provides visual trust indicator Q3 2026
GDPR Art. 5 Data Minimisation: Personal data must be adequate, relevant, and limited No personal data in DID documents; signatures contain only public keys DESIGN
GDPR Art. 25 Privacy by Design: Data protection by design and by default Fingerprint scheme enables verification without data disclosure; selective disclosure profile DESIGN
Important: TRAIL registration does NOT constitute compliance with the EU AI Act. Compliance is the responsibility of the deploying organization. TRAIL provides technical infrastructure that supports compliance - it is not a compliance certification. Hinweis: Eine TRAIL-Registrierung erfullt NICHT den EU AI Act. Die Konformitat liegt in der Verantwortung der einsetzenden Organisation. TRAIL liefert technische Infrastruktur zur Unterstutzung der Konformitat - keine Zertifizierung.
Protocol development timelineProtokoll-Entwicklungs-Timeline
TRAIL is an open-source protocol. The specification and reference implementation are publicly available under CC BY 4.0 (spec) and MIT (code). Community feedback drives development. TRAIL ist ein Open-Source-Protokoll. Spezifikation und Referenzimplementierung sind offentlich verfugbar unter CC BY 4.0 (Spec) und MIT (Code). Community-Feedback treibt die Entwicklung.
March 2026 - CompletedAbgeschlossen

v1.0.0: FoundationFundament

  • W3C DID Method Specification publishedW3C DID-Methoden-Spezifikation veroffentlicht
  • W3C DID Extensions Registry PR #669 submittedW3C DID-Extensions-Registry PR #669 eingereicht
  • Reference implementation: @trailprotocol/core (TypeScript)Referenzimplementierung: @trailprotocol/core (TypeScript)
  • Self-mode DID resolution (offline, no registry needed)Self-mode DID-Auflosung (offline, kein Registry notig)
  • EUIPO Trademark filed (Classes 9, 35, 42)EUIPO-Marke angemeldet (Klassen 9, 35, 42)
March 2026 - CurrentAktuell

v1.1.0: HardeningHartung

  • Crypto agility framework (SUPPORTED_CRYPTOSUITES registry)Krypto-Agilitatsframework (SUPPORTED_CRYPTOSUITES Registry)
  • Key rotation for Org/Agent modeKey Rotation fur Org/Agent-Modus
  • Specification versioning (trail:specVersion)Spezifikationsversionierung (trail:specVersion)
  • Key recovery mechanisms (multi-controller, social, registry-assisted)Key-Recovery-Mechanismen (Multi-Controller, Social, Registry-gestutzt)
  • Governance framework (dispute resolution, change management)Governance-Framework (Streitbeilegung, Anderungsmanagement)
  • 49 tests across 12 test suites49 Tests in 12 Test-Suites
  • GitHub Discussions enabled for community feedbackGitHub Discussions fur Community-Feedback freigeschaltet
Q2 2026 - PlannedGeplant

v1.2.0: DistributionDistribution

  • Publish @trailprotocol/core to npm@trailprotocol/core auf npm veroffentlichen
  • CI/CD pipeline (GitHub Actions)CI/CD-Pipeline (GitHub Actions)
  • JSON-LD Context deployment on trailprotocol.orgJSON-LD-Context-Deployment auf trailprotocol.org
  • CONTRIBUTING.md + community guidelinesCONTRIBUTING.md + Community-Richtlinien
  • Credential revocation (W3C StatusList2021)Credential-Widerruf (W3C StatusList2021)
  • Universal Resolver driver (did:trail)Universal-Resolver-Treiber (did:trail)
Q3-Q4 2026 - PlannedGeplant

v2.0.0: Registry

  • TRAIL Registry Server (HTTP API for Tier 1/2)TRAIL-Registry-Server (HTTP-API fur Tier 1/2)
  • Trust Score Engine (5-dimension computation)Trust-Score-Engine (5-dimensionale Berechnung)
  • Python + Go reference implementationsPython- und Go-Referenzimplementierungen
  • W3C DID Test Suite complianceW3C-DID-Test-Suite-Konformitat
  • Post-quantum cryptosuite migration pathPost-Quanten-Kryptosuite-Migrationspfad
Specification & DocumentationSpezifikation & Dokumentation
Specification

DID Method Specification v1.1.0

The complete did:trail method specification, including CRUD operations, trust model, security considerations, crypto agility, key rotation, and governance.Die vollstandige did:trail-Methodenspezifikation mit CRUD-Operationen, Trust-Modell, Sicherheitsbetrachtungen, Krypto-Agilitat, Key Rotation und Governance.

View on GitHubAuf GitHub ansehen
Whitepaper

Technical Whitepaper v1.0Technisches Whitepaper v1.0

In-depth technical overview of the TRAIL architecture, trust model, credential framework, threat model, and EU AI Act alignment.Detaillierte technische Ubersicht der TRAIL-Architektur, des Trust-Modells, Credential-Frameworks, Bedrohungsmodells und EU-AI-Act-Ausrichtung.

Read WhitepaperWhitepaper lesen
Open Source

GitHub Repository

Full source code, reference implementation (49 tests), DID document examples. Spec: CC BY 4.0. Code: MIT License.Vollstandiger Quellcode, Referenzimplementierung (49 Tests), DID-Dokument-Beispiele. Spec: CC BY 4.0. Code: MIT-Lizenz.

View RepositoryRepository anzeigen
Community

GitHub Discussions

Join the conversation. Ask questions, propose features, share your use case, or challenge the protocol design.Nimm an der Diskussion teil. Stell Fragen, schlage Features vor, teile deinen Use Case oder hinterfrage das Protokolldesign.

Join DiscussionsDiskussionen beitreten