Terence Kwok, CEO and Founder of Humanity Protocol – Interview Series

Terence Kwok is the CEO and Founder of Humanity Protocol, a company focused on developing decentralized identity solutions using biometric technology. Based in Hong Kong, the organization has reached a valuation of over $1 billion.

Kwok is a technology entrepreneur whose work spans blockchain, Web3, and digital identity systems. He has led Humanity Protocol through partnerships with a range of global investors and stakeholders, helping the company gain traction in the evolving identity verification space.

Humanity Protocol uses non-invasive biometrics and zero-knowledge cryptography to power its Proof of Humanity (PoH) system—allowing individuals to verify their identity without sharing personal data. Its broader goal is to make decentralization, identity ownership, and inclusion foundational to the digital world.

Can you start by sharing what first inspired you to build Humanity Protocol and focus on decentralized identity using palm biometrics?

The core idea behind Humanity Protocol was to solve one of the most urgent challenges on the internet: verifying unique, real humans online while preserving privacy. The largest identity graphs we know, like Meta, Google, and Microsoft, are built to connect people but we’ve now reached a point where these platforms are being flooded with bots and misinformation to shape online discourse to the detriment of real people. Biometrics offered a secure solution, and palm-based identification, especially using subdermal vein patterns, proved to be both more private and harder to spoof than traditional options like facial recognition or fingerprints. That combination of privacy, security, and human uniqueness made it the right foundation for our decentralized identity platform which serves as an added layer of security and safety on top of existing infrastructures.

When you introduced the initial testnet and opened reservations for Human ID, what was the reaction from users and the developer community?

The response was immediate and enthusiastic. Within the first 24 hours, more than 25,000 people signed up. That momentum carried through as over one million Human IDs were issued on the testnet in just 52 days. It clearly demonstrated a strong demand for privacy-preserving, Web3-native identity systems. The developer community in particular responded with curiosity and support, exploring how Human ID could integrate into decentralized apps and services. We’ve recently begun rolling out our APIs to developers at hackathons and the response has been great.

How did the $20 million funding and the $1.1 billion valuation shape your roadmap toward Phase 2—palm scan verification?

The funding and valuation gave us the ability to scale our team and advance the core biometric technology, particularly in hardware development and cryptographic infrastructure. With strong backing from investors, we were able to prioritize building more accurate and secure palm scanning tools and to explore broader applications beyond online verification, including physical access and event check-ins. It was a validation of our vision and a catalyst to push forward on our roadmap.

Could you walk us through how palm print and vein scanning work within Humanity Protocol and why you believe this approach is more resilient and secure than other biometrics?

We use optical imaging to record lines and ridges, and near-infrared imaging to map the unique vein patterns beneath the skin. The combination of visible and subdermal data makes it extremely difficult to spoof or replicate. Unlike facial recognition or fingerprints, which can be faked or lifted, the palm’s internal structure is nearly impossible to forge and adds a layer of biometric resilience that aligns with our goals for decentralized, tamper-resistant identity.

What role do zero-knowledge proofs play in ensuring that palm biometrics remain private and that identity data isn’t exposed on-chain?

Rather than storing raw biometric data, we use zero-knowledge cryptography to allow users to prove that their palm scan matches a previously registered identity without revealing the underlying data or putting any personal information on-chain. So for instance, if you scan your palm to verify a transaction, your palm scan never leaves your device. Only the numerical representation is used to say “this person is who they say they are.” This architecture allows us to validate uniqueness and humanity while preserving user sovereignty and compliance with data protection standards.

What motivated the decision to acquire Moongate, and how does its Web3 ticketing and event tech complement your Proof of Humanity system?

Moongate built a strong reputation in the Web3 event space with tools for on-chain ticketing and access management. By acquiring them, we gained a proven infrastructure that could immediately support real-world applications of Human ID. Their technology complements our identity layer by enabling verified humans to check in, enter, and participate in events using a secure and privacy-conscious system. It also opens the door to new use cases where digital identity meets physical access. This is our way of shortening the time it would take to deliver a full-stack solution that’s capable of supporting a wide range of use cases at scale.

With Moongate continuing under its own brand, how will identity verification via Human ID be integrated into its existing ticketing and access-control workflows?

Moongate will remain a standalone product, but with Human ID integrated as a verification layer. While implementation details are being finalized, the general goal is to allow event organizers to offer Human ID-verified ticketing. This could help prevent bots, ticket fraud, and fake identities without requiring users to give up privacy. It adds trust and authenticity to the Web3 event experience while keeping user control front and center.

How are you addressing privacy, data security, and potential regulatory scrutiny when deploying ID verification at live events?

Our system is designed to be privacy-preserving by default. Biometric data is processed locally on the user’s device and is never stored or transmitted in raw form. The cryptographic proofs used for verification are anonymized and compliant with global data privacy principles. We engage proactively with legal and regulatory experts to ensure alignment with relevant frameworks, and we avoid centralized storage or personal data retention, reducing potential risk exposure.

In your view, how could Human ID become a standard credential for real-world physical spaces like concerts, conferences, or festivals?

Human ID has the potential to serve as a universal identity credential for accessing physical events and venues. Because it combines high security, instant verification, and strong privacy, it offers advantages over QR codes, wristbands, or manual ID checks. As more organizers adopt Human ID through platforms like Moongate, we see a future where verifying your identity for access is seamless, fraud-proof, and fully under your control.

With the rise of AI-generated identity threats and deepfakes, how does Humanity Protocol offer a robust defense against bots and impersonation?

AI-generated faces and voices are increasingly convincing, but they cannot replicate the internal biological features of a human palm. Our use of vein pattern scanning, combined with live biometric validation and zero-knowledge proofs, provides a strong defense against impersonation and deepfakes. It ensures that the person being verified is a real, unique human, not a synthetic identity or automated bot.

Finally, what’s the broader vision for Humanity Protocol over the next 1–2 years—and how central is Moongate in that journey?

Our goal is to make Human ID a foundational layer of identity for Web3 and beyond. Over the next two years, we aim to expand access, deepen integrations, and bring biometric identity into more everyday contexts online and in person. Moongate plays an important role in that vision by offering a bridge to real-world adoption through events, access control, and community engagement. We believe that nothing will be as effective in driving adoption than demonstrating how it can improve people’s lives at scale. We aim to always address this point with every step we take in our roadmap.

Thank you for the great interview readers who wish to learn more should visit Humanity Protocol.