Create a Subject DID

Create a 'Holder' or 'Subject' Decentralized Identifier (DID), of method did:key using cheqd Studio.

In decentralized identity systems, Holders (also referred to as Subjects) are the recipients of Verifiable Credentialsโ€”typically representing individuals, organisations, objects or devices.

To enable credential interactions such as receiving, presenting, and proving control over an identity, each Holder needs a unique cryptographic key pair. This key pair is used to create a Decentralized Identifier (DID) that represents their identity.


Use Cases for Holder Identity Keys

After generating a key pair using the API below, you can use it to:

  • โœ… Generate a did:key identifier, an off-ledger, self-contained DID that is ideal for lightweight identity use cases


Why Use did:key for Holders?

The did:key method is a simple, deterministic DID method that embeds the Holderโ€™s public key directly into the DID itself. It doesnโ€™t require blockchain anchoring, making it:

  • โšก Fast and lightweight โ€“ no on-ledger operations required

  • ๐Ÿ” Privacy-preserving โ€“ good for ephemeral or throwaway identifiers

  • ๐Ÿงช Useful for testing and interoperability โ€“ widely supported by wallets and agent frameworks

  • ๐Ÿง Ideal for Holder/Subject identities โ€“ where the main role is to receive and present credentials rather than issue them

Many ecosystems choose did:key for wallet-based identities, while keeping issuer DIDs on-ledger (e.g. did:cheqd) to ensure resolvability and public trust.

Take a deeper look into the did:key specification here:


Get Started

To create a did:key DID, you can generate an identity key pair using the API below on cheqd Studio.

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