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Version: v3.x.x

Encryption and Access Control

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Habanero Mainnet and Manzano Testnet are now live. Check out the docs on migration to learn how you can start building on Habanero and Manzano today.

Overview​

Lit Protocol can be used with your storage provider of choice for secure data encryption. With Lit, you can encrypt and decrypt content client-side, defining specific rules for access using access control conditions (ACCs).

Both on and off-chain data can be used to define ACCs, with examples including encrypting data behind:

To get started building with these tools right away, check out the SDK install guide. Otherwise, keep reading to get a better understanding of the types of use cases decentralized encryption can be used to enable.

Introduction to Encryption​

Encryption is a fundamental application of public key cryptography. A core building block of modern security infrastructure on the Internet, public key cryptography plays a pivotal role in enabling secure communication and preserving data integrity when we interact online.

At a high level, encryption is the process of transforming some plaintext data into ciphertext using a specialized algorithm. This renders the content unreadable and indistinguishable from random text to anyone without the proper decryption key.

Exploring Decentralized Access Control with Lit​

The Lit network can be used to introduce private and permissioned data to a host of application categories, specifically addressing the “public-by-default” nature of blockchains and storage networks like IPFS. Lit can be applied generally, agnostic to the storage provider being used and desired use case. Possible applications include:

  1. Encrypted wallet-based messaging: Secure wallet-to-wallet communication without relying on a centralized key custodian.
  2. User-owned social and identity graphs (“self-sovereign data”): Empower users with full control over how their personal data is managed on the Web, shifting power away from centralized corporations to individuals.
  3. Credential-gated spaces: Use token and credential ownership as “keys” to accessing exclusive spaces, content, and experiences, introducing additional utility for digital assets.
  4. Mempool encryption: This technique can be used to conceal transaction data from Searchers and Block Builders and mitigate the negative externalities of MEV.
  5. Private NFTs: Release NFTs with private embedded content that can only be accessed by the NFT owner themselves.
  6. Open data marketplaces: Open data marketplaces facilitate the exchange of data between individuals and organizations, allowing users to buy, sell, or share information in a secure and transparent manner. These systems promote data-driven innovation by making diverse datasets accessible to researchers, developers, and businesses, while also providing data creators with the opportunity to monetize their own content.
  7. Backup and recovery for private key material: Use Lit to configure robust backup and recovery solutions for private key material (such as multi-factor authentication or social recovery methods), helping users avoid the catastrophic loss of access to their assets due to lost or compromised keys.

Getting Started and Further Reading​

Some links to further reading and resources to help you get started building on the Lit network today: