In a demonstration of the real-world utility of Web3 identity technology beyond the crypto space, Billions Network is working with India’s Ministry of Labour to combat fraud in the nation’s social security system. The partnership was revealed by Billions Network co-founder and CEO Evan McMullen during a recent appearance on the ID Talk podcast. The project adds to India’s broader digital identity initiatives aimed at securing welfare programs and public benefits.
The project is a major use case for the company, which aims to build a universal “trust layer for the decentralized web.” While Billions Network is rooted in the crypto ecosystem, this initiative in India showcases its technology’s ability to operate within and enhance existing national infrastructures. The effort also comes as India expands international cooperation on identity projects, such as its agreement with Myanmar on digital ID development.
An “Existential Moment” for the Internet
The partnership, however, was just one part of a wide-ranging conversation that touched on what McMullen calls an “existential moment for the internet.” She issued an urgent warning about the rise of autonomous AI agents, stating that the industry has “months not years” to develop robust verification systems before these agents become pervasive.
McMullen pointed out that a crisis of digital trust is already here, asserting that “about 50 percent of internet traffic comes from unidentified, unaccountable bots.” As these bots evolve into more sophisticated agents that can manage finances, negotiate deals, and act on a user’s behalf, the inability to distinguish them from humans poses a major security risk.
“Know Your Agent”: A New Standard for Trust
To address this, Billions Network has developed the “Deep Trust Framework,” a system designed to assign unique, verifiable identities to AI agents. This creates a new standard of “Know Your Agent,” allowing for an unbroken chain of accountability from an AI back to its human operator.
The technology behind this framework is zero-knowledge proofs, a cryptographic method McMullen describes as “the hero that we need.” This technique allows a user – or an agent – to prove a specific claim is true without revealing the sensitive underlying data, a concept she refers to as “identity without disclosure.” For example, a user could prove they are over 18 without ever showing their date of birth. This is achieved by using mobile-first verification, such as tapping a passport’s NFC chip to a smartphone to create a secure, verifiable credential that remains in the user’s control.
“Our work is related to crypto as in cryptography,” McMullen clarified, emphasizing that the focus is on “using math as a form of security and verification,” not just financial assets.
To hear the full discussion and get Evan McMullen’s complete perspective on the future of human and machine identity, listen to the latest episode of ID Talk through the media player below or wherever you get your podcasts.
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
