How Cheqd Is Developing an AI Trust Layer

As AI becomes more embedded in our daily lives, the question of trust and privacy is more urgent than ever. Who controls our data? How do we verify digital content? Can AI operate autonomously without compromising personal privacy? These are the challenges cheqd is tackling head-on. With a strong focus on self-sovereign identity (SSI) and decentralized identifiers (DIDs), cheqd is building the foundation for a future where individuals—not corporations—have control over their data.

We sat down with cheqd’s co-founder and CEO, Fraser Edwards, to discuss how their technology is shaping verifiable AI, content authenticity, and decentralized identity. As AI agents take on more responsibility, cheqd’s innovations are setting new standards for trust in the digital world.

Build trust in the AI economy.

The rise of AI agents is transforming how we interact online. How does cheqd ensure these AI interactions remain trustworthy and secure for everyone?

At cheqd, we’re making sure AI interactions are not just powerful but also trustworthy and secure for everyone. And to do that, we focus on two key pillars.

First, there are Decentralized Identities (DIDs) and payment infrastructure. AI agents built on cheqd’s framework use decentralized identifiers, Zero-Knowledge Proofs, Verifiable Credentials, and Trust Registries. What does that mean in practice? Every interaction—whether it’s between humans and AI or AI-to-AI—is tied to a verifiable, privacy-preserving identity. So instead of relying on a central authority, users stay in control of their data. They can authenticate and operate seamlessly without exposing unnecessary personal information.

Then we have Trusted Data Markets. AI agents need reliable, portable data to function efficiently. Through our network, they can access and exchange Verifiable Credentials, giving them a portable identity and reputation that isn’t locked into any single platform. That’s a game-changer. As agent-to-agent interactions grow, AI agents will need to carry their own reputations with them—just like humans do. And because Verifiable Credentials can be verified and revoked, it creates an environment where trust isn’t just assumed—it’s provable.

We are already working with organizations like Dock, ID Crypt Global, Sensay, and Hovi to bring this vision to life, and we welcome others to join us in building a more secure and decentralized AI ecosystem.

As AI agents increasingly act on behalf of users – from booking flights to managing finances – how does cheqd ensure we can trust these automated interactions?

AI agents like humans need verifiable proof (credential) that they are who they say they are. With Verifiable Credentials, AI Agents will be able to prove who they are and to who they are acting on behalf of.

Using travel as an example, if a personal AI Agent is interacting with a travel AI Agent, the personal agent will need to prove that they are authorised to search and book a flight and hotels. The travel Agent will need to verify the personal Agent and its owner’s data to proceed with the sale of the ticket/hotel. And, these will all be proven through verifiable credentials.

Any issuance of a verifiable credential, revocation or verification of a credential demands $CHEQ to happen (albeit this can be abstracted – e.g. a verification is done and charged in US dollars, but under the hood the transaction is done in $CHEQ on the network). From a tokenomics perspective, any transaction on the network (i.e. the interactions on the above example) leads to $CHEQ burns.

cheqd ensures that AI agents are trained on datasets of known quality and biases. Through our infrastructure, organizations can issue verifiable credentials that attest to the quality, source, and characteristics of their datasets. These credentials act as a stamp of trust, enabling AI developers and users to verify the authenticity and integrity of the data used for training.

This also opens new revenue streams for dataset providers. By issuing verifiable credentials that attest to the quality and provenance of their datasets, providers can position their data as premium, trustworthy, and ethical in a competitive marketplace. Providers can monetize their datasets by offering them to AI developers who demand high-quality, bias-transparent data for training. This creates a win-win ecosystem where providers are rewarded for maintaining rigorous data standards, and developers gain access to the reliable inputs needed to build ethical AI systems.*

With the growing challenge of distinguishing between human and AI-generated content, how does cheqd’s content credentials technology help maintain trust in digital content?

We are making sure creators and IP holders can label their work accurately—whether it’s AI-generated, camera-captured, or created another way. This is crucial because it lets consumers trace content back to its source, which helps build trust in digital media.

Think about an image or video captured on a camera with tamper-proof hardware. The moment it’s taken, the device records key metadata—like where it was shot, the time, and the camera model. That metadata is then signed into a Content Credential, which acts as a digital fingerprint for the file. We’re working with The Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA), alongside Samsung, Microsoft, and others, to make this process an industry standard.

Now, let’s say that content gets uploaded to editing software like Adobe Photoshop. Any modifications—whether it’s an AI enhancement, a manual edit, or even metadata removal—are automatically recorded as part of the file’s Content Credentials. So there’s a transparent log of what’s changed.

When the final version is published online, that Content Credential stays with it, allowing anyone to check whether it was AI-generated or manually created. And when republishers want to use the content, they can make payments directly to the right people—the photographer, editor, or publisher—through our credential payments system. That way, everyone involved gets fair compensation for their work.

By integrating Content Credentials at every step, we’re creating an ecosystem where creators are protected, authenticity is preserved, and monetization is built in—all while making sure consumers and publishers can trust the content they engage with.

How does cheqd’s unique payment infrastructure create new business opportunities while preserving user privacy?

cheqd’s payment infrastructure revolutionizes monetization models by enabling secure payments tied to verifiable credentials. This unlocks new revenue streams for businesses while safeguarding user privacy through decentralized, trust-preserving mechanisms.

New Commercial Models with Credential Payments. cheqd’s Credential Payments allow organizations to monetize their trust and reputation.

Trust Anchors (e.g., news organizations) can act as fact-checkers and authenticity verifiers, earning micropayments whenever their verification credentials are accessed or used.

Content creators such as photographers, editors, and publishers can receive payments automatically each time their work is republished, ensuring fair compensation for every stakeholder in the content lifecycle.

AI agent creators and marketplaces can charge for issuing credentials or charging for credential verification of their agents.

Preserving Privacy While Monetising Content

Unlike traditional systems that rely on centralized intermediaries, cheqd’s decentralized approach ensures privacy-first transactions. Payments and credential verifications are processed without exposing sensitive user data, creating trust between parties without sacrificing privacy. With technologies like Zero Knowledge Proofs (ZKP) and Selective Disclosure, organizations will only access the information they need. As an example, organizations that need to confirm that an individual is over 21 years old, might just receive a positive or negative (Yes/No) answer instead of the individual’s full birth date.

Looking ahead, how will cheqd’s trust infrastructure shape the future of AI interactions and digital identity?

We are not just building technology—we’re helping shape global standards for transparency and trust in the digital world. That’s why we actively contribute to organizations like The Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) and the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI). These groups are laying the foundation for a future where digital content has a clear, verifiable chain of custody from creation to publication. It’s about making sure people can trust what they see online and ensuring AI-driven interactions are backed by privacy-preserving credentials.

Our infrastructure is designed to support Verifiable Credentials, covering everything from AI agent credentials and content authenticity to verified datasets. AI is only as good as the data it’s trained on, and these credentials ensure that AI systems operate with transparency and accountability. With decentralized identity (DID) solutions, we’re giving people control over their digital identities—whether they’re booking a service, verifying content, or interacting with AI-powered platforms.

Beyond identity, we’re also introducing new commercial models for trust. Through cheqd’s payment rails for digital credentials, fact-checkers, news organizations, and content creators can monetize their contributions. This means trust isn’t just a principle—it becomes a valuable asset that incentivizes accuracy, accountability, and ethical AI development.

Ready to build trust in the AI economy? Visit cheqd.io to learn how their verification infrastructure makes AI interactions safer and more reliable, or join their community on X – @cheqd_io to stay updated on the latest verifiable AI.