# Attestations

Attestations are a powerful concept in blockchain technology, allowing one entity to make verified claims about another or about specific data on the blockchain. The Ethereum Attestation Service (EAS) is an open-source, permissionless platform that enables the creation, verification, and management of these attestations on or off-chain.

## What are Attestations?

Attestations are essentially digital signatures that vouch for certain attributes or facts. They can be used for:

* Identity Verification
* Reputation Systems
* Compliance Checks
* Ownership Proofs
* And much more!

## Types of Attestations in Zipwire

### Basic Attestations: "IsAHuman"

A simple boolean attestation that verifies a wallet belongs to a real person. [Learn more about IsAHuman →](https://docs.zipwire.io/fundamentals/security/attestations/the-isahuman-attestation-purpose-and-limitations)

### Robust Attestations: Private Data

A more secure attestation that uses Merkle root hashes to verify identity documents while preserving privacy. [Learn more about Private Data attestations →](https://docs.zipwire.io/fundamentals/security/attestations/the-private-data-attestation-merkle-roots)

## Getting Attestations

### Self-Service Attestations

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<https://github.com/zipwireapp/gbk-tz-docs/blob/main/fundamentals/zipwire-attest/README.md>
{% endcontent-ref %}

Zipwire Attest is our self-service platform where individuals can register, connect their Ethereum wallet, and get blockchain attestations independently. This service allows you to:

* **Register independently** - No business account required
* **Connect your wallet** - Receive attestations directly to your wallet
* **Complete ID verification** - Government-approved identity checks
* **Get attested** - Claim IsAHuman and Private Data attestations
* **Generate proofs** - Create selective disclosure proofs when needed

{% hint style="info" %}
**Self-Service vs. Business Use**

Zipwire Attest is designed for individual users who want to build their digital identity. For business use cases (like employee verification), use [Zipwire Collect](https://github.com/zipwireapp/gbk-tz-docs/blob/main/fundamentals/security/zipwire-collect/README.md) which integrates attestations into the document collection process.
{% endhint %}

### Business Attestations

For businesses and organizations, attestations can be obtained through Zipwire Collect when ID checks are included in document collections. This works as follows:

* **ID check integration** - Collections can include ID verification items
* **Wallet connection** - Users connect their Ethereum wallet to the collection
* **Free attestations** - Users can claim attestations for free (business pays for ID check)
* **Same verification** - Uses the same Yoti ID verification as Zipwire Attest
* **Same attestations** - Users receive the same IsAHuman and Private Data attestations

{% hint style="info" %}
**Overlap with Zipwire Attest**

Zipwire Collect and Zipwire Attest overlap when it comes to ID checks. If a collection includes an ID check item and the user has connected their wallet, they can claim attestations for free since the business paid for the ID verification through Zipwire Collect.
{% endhint %}

## How Do Attestations Work?

### The Process

1. Verification: An attester (like Zipwire) verifies your information
2. Recording: The attestation is recorded on the blockchain
3. Verification: You can later prove specific attributes without revealing the underlying data

### Privacy and Security

* The blockchain only stores the attestation and its Merkle root hash, not your actual data
* You can selectively reveal specific attributes using cryptographic proofs
* The system maintains your privacy while ensuring verifiability

## Why Use Attestations?

### For Users

* Privacy: Share only what you need to share
* Control: You decide what information to reveal
* Portability: Use your attestations across different platforms
* Security: Cryptographic proofs ensure your data hasn't been tampered with

### For Platforms

* Trust: Verify user information without storing sensitive data
* Compliance: Meet regulatory requirements while respecting privacy
* Efficiency: Reduce the need for repeated identity checks
* Security: Prevent fraud and identity theft

## How to Get Started

### For Individual Users

1. **Visit Zipwire Attest**: Go to our self-service platform
2. **Connect Your Wallet**: Link your Ethereum wallet (must be done before verification)
3. **Complete ID Check**: Verify your identity using government-approved methods
4. **Claim Attestations**: Add IsAHuman and Private Data attestations to your wallet
5. **Generate Proofs**: Create selective disclosure proofs when needed

{% content-ref url="<https://github.com/zipwireapp/gbk-tz-docs/blob/main/fundamentals/zipwire-attest/get-started.md>" %}
<https://github.com/zipwireapp/gbk-tz-docs/blob/main/fundamentals/zipwire-attest/get-started.md>
{% endcontent-ref %}

### For Businesses

1. **Set up Zipwire Collect**: Configure your document collection process
2. **Add ID check items**: Include ID verification in your collections
3. **Users connect wallets**: Users link their Ethereum wallets to the collection
4. **Complete verification**: Users complete ID checks as part of the collection
5. **Claim attestations**: Users can claim free attestations to their wallets

{% content-ref url="<https://github.com/zipwireapp/gbk-tz-docs/blob/main/fundamentals/zipwire-collect/README.md>" %}
<https://github.com/zipwireapp/gbk-tz-docs/blob/main/fundamentals/zipwire-collect/README.md>
{% endcontent-ref %}

## Learn More

* [Understanding Merkle Trees and Proofs](https://docs.zipwire.io/fundamentals/security/understanding-merkle-trees-and-proofs)
* [Verifying Attested Wallets](https://docs.zipwire.io/fundamentals/security/wallet-verification-guide/verifying-attested-wallets)
* [The Ethereum Attestation Service](https://docs.attest.org/docs/welcome)
* [EAS Scan for the Base Ethereum blockchain](https://base.easscan.org/)