Re: did:cel - a cryptographic event log-based DID Method

Hi Manu and all, sorry for the late reply. Like this work a lot! Happy 
to help.

I’ve got lots of sample code from generating test vectors for all the 
current VC crypto suites. It looks like creating a test witness server 
should be simpler than the interoperability test servers for the VC 
cryptosuites. So can help in setting up a “small” independent witness 
service.

I’m reviewing the literature a bit on “time stamp authorities” and some 
IETF RFCs on the topics if we think there is a need for additional 
explanatory text on the “witness” concept.

Cheers

Greg

On 12/8/25 11:54 PM, Manu Sporny wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> The DID Methods WG Charter is going up for a W3C Member vote soon and
> one of the DID Method types it contemplates standardizing is a fully
> decentralized DID Method. The Cryptographic Event Log[1] was adopted
> as a Credentials CG work item earlier this year, is listed in the new
> DID Methods WG charter, and hinted at a DID Method that was powered by
> the technology.
>
> This email is to introduce did:cel, a fully decentralized,
> cryptographic event log-based DID Method:
>
> https://digitalbazaar.github.io/did-cel-spec/

>
> The goals of this DID Method are:
>
> Minimal Infrastructure - A single individual with a file hosting
> location can create and control multiple DIDs in a way that the
> identifiers are highly-available and globally recognized.
>
> Near-zero Cost - The cost to create and control multiple DIDs is not
> burdensome to at least 70% of the world's population, which are the
> number of people that have access to the Internet as of 2025.
>
> Censorship and Coercion Resistant - The oblivious witness and file
> storage services used to manage a DID cannot censor or coerce an
> individual or organization to any significant degree.
>
> No Centralization - Witness and file storage services are abundant,
> easy to operate at scale, and are easily interchangeable if they
> become non-responsive or compromised.
>
> Over the years, there are many of us that have invested in DLT-based
> DID Methods and have not seen their usage grow at the rate we would
> wish. There are a number of reasons for this, but many of them boil
> down to implementation and operational complexity as well as
> significant infrastructure and transaction costs. The did:cel DID
> method focuses on reducing each of those costs as much as possible.
>
> Please take a look at the spec and let us know what you think. Raise
> issues here if you find anything of concern:
>
> https://github.com/digitalbazaar/did-cel-spec/issues

>
> We are currently looking for support and co-editors for this work item
> in the W3C CCG and will raise an issue to call for adoption once we
> have a week or two of discussion on this mailing list. If you are
> supportive of this work, please let us know via the mailing list.
> Happy to answer questions and concerns in the meantime. :)
>
> -- manu
>
> [1]https://w3c-ccg.github.io/cel-spec/

>
-- 
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Dr. Greg M. Bernstein, https://www.grotto-networking.com


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