Blockchain-based identity and transaction platform

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer media implementing blockchain-based identity and transaction platforms are described herein. Identity information, such as a photo, for a person can be encrypted and stored in a blockchain as part of enrolling the person as a user in a blockchain-based identity and transaction platform. Trust relationships can be formed between the user and other users, and records of the trust relationships can also be stored in the blockchain. Transactions between the user and other users with whom the user has formed a trust relationship can also be stored in the blockchain. The transactions can be authorized, for example, through a multi-stage verification process that accesses information stored on the blockchain. The transactions and identity information, along with other information, contribute to an economic identity of the person.

1 . A computing device comprising one or more processors and one or more computer-readable storage media having stored therein computer-executable instructions for causing the one or more processors, when programmed thereby, to perform operations comprising:
 encrypting identity information for a person and storing the encrypted identity information in a blockchain as part of enrolling the person as a user in a blockchain-based economic identity and transaction platform;   storing, in the blockchain, records of trust relationships between the user and other users; and   authorizing transactions between the user and one or more of the other users with whom the user has formed a trust relationship; and   storing records of the transactions in the blockchain, wherein at least some of the transactions and identity information contribute to an economic identity of the user.   
     
     
         2 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise providing the economic identity of the user to a requesting party, wherein the requesting party is another user in the blockchain-based economic identity and transaction platform. 
     
     
         3 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the economic identity further comprises at least one of employment history information, education history information, property ownership information, or medical history information for the user, and wherein the at least one of employment history information, education history information, property ownership information, or medical history information is stored in the blockchain. 
     
     
         4 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the identity information comprises an image of the person, and wherein the identity information further comprises at least one of a name, government identifier, fingerprint, or eye pattern information. 
     
     
         5 . The computing device of  claim 4 , wherein the image of the person is used in authorizing the transactions. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the transactions comprise at least one of a funds transfer, medical treatment authorization, or food assistance authorization. 
     
     
         8 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving identity information for a person;   encrypting the identity information;   storing the encrypted identity information in a block of a blockchain; and   establishing, based on the encrypted identity information, a unique identifier associated with the person.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the identity information comprises an image of the person, and wherein the identity information further comprises at least one of a name, government identifier, fingerprint or eye pattern information. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein establishing the unique identifier comprises designating the encrypted identity information as the unique identifier. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising associating, with the unique identifier, at least one of medical, employment, educational, property ownership, or economic information corresponding to the person and storing the medical, employment, educational, property ownership, or economic information in the blockchain. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of economic or employment information is stored in the blockchain in association with the unique identifier and represents an economic identity of the person. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising storing, in association with the unique identifier and in the blockchain, transaction information representing one or more transactions between the person and one or more additional parties. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising storing, in association with the unique identifier and in the blockchain, a record of a trust relationship between the person and one or more additional parties. 
     
     
         16 . One or more computer-readable memory or storage devices having stored thereon computer-executable instructions to cause a computer system, when programmed thereby, to perform operations comprising:
 identifying a recipient for a transaction;   generating first stage authentication data;   receiving an indication that the first stage authentication data has been provided to a verification agent;   verifying the first stage authentication data;   after verifying the first stage authentication data, retrieving identity information for the recipient from one or more blocks in a blockchain and transmitting the identity information;   generating and transmitting second stage authentication data;   receiving an indication that the second stage authentication data has been provided to the verification agent; and   after verifying the second stage authentication data, determining that the person in the presence of the verification agent is the recipient and authorizing the transaction.   
     
     
         17 . The one or more computer-readable memory or storage devices of  claim 16 , wherein the identity information comprises at least one of an image of the recipient, a fingerprint of the recipient, or eye pattern information for the recipient. 
     
     
         18 . The one or more computer-readable memory or storage devices of  claim 16 , wherein the retrieved identity information is encrypted, and wherein the operations further comprise:
 requesting a decryption token;   receiving a decryption token; and   decrypting the identity information for the recipient, wherein the transmitted identity information is decrypted identity information.   
     
     
         19 . The one or more computer-readable memory or storage devices of  claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise storing a record of the transaction in the blockchain in association with the recipient. 
     
     
         20 . The one or more computer-readable memory or storage devices of  claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise, prior to generating the first stage authentication data: establishing a record of a trust relationship between the recipient and a sender; and storing the record of the trust relationship in the blockchain. 
     
     
         21 . The one or more computer-readable memory or storage devices of  claim 16 , wherein the transaction is at least one of a funds transfer, medical authorization, or food assistance authorization. 
     
     
         22 . The one or more computer-readable memory or storage devices of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second stage authentication data are codes comprising at least one of numbers or letters.