What is mwen.io?
mwen.io is a digital identity wallet. It lets you prove who you are to websites and apps — without handing over your personal data.
The problem with how identity works today
When you sign up for a website, you typically hand over your name, email address, date of birth, and more. The site stores all of that in a database. If the site gets breached — or sells your data — your information is exposed.
"Sign in with Google" or "Sign in with Apple" is more convenient, but it trades one problem for another: a single company can now track which apps you use and when.
What mwen.io does differently
mwen.io works from a different starting point: your identity lives on your device, not on any server.
When you sign in to an app using mwen.io:
- The app asks your wallet for specific information (for example, proof that you are over 18).
- Your wallet shows you exactly what is being asked for, and you choose what to share.
- Your wallet sends a cryptographic proof to the app — not your raw data.
- The app can verify the proof instantly without calling back to mwen.io or any other server.
No central database. No data broker. No company in the middle.
What is a "sovereign" identity?
You may see mwen.io described as a sovereign identity system. This means:
- You create your identity yourself, with no account registration required.
- Only you hold the keys to your identity — no company, government, or server holds a copy.
- You can take your identity to any device or app that supports the standard.
How is this different from "Sign in with Google"?
| Sign in with Google | Sign in with mwen.io | |
|---|---|---|
| Where your identity lives | Google's servers | Your device |
| Who can see which apps you use | Google can | Nobody — each app sees a different identifier |
| What the app receives | Your email, profile info | Only the claims you chose to share |
| What happens if you delete your account | You lose access to all connected apps | Your identity is yours; no account to delete |
| Privacy between apps | Google can correlate your activity | Each app gets a different, unlinkable ID |
Your identity key
At the heart of mwen.io is a 24-word phrase — called a mnemonic — that is generated on your device when you first set up the wallet. This phrase is the root of your entire identity.
Every app you sign in to gets a unique cryptographic key derived from this phrase. Because each app gets a different key, apps cannot link your activity across services — even if they compared notes.
You will never be asked to type your 24-word phrase into a website. If any site asks for it, do not enter it.
For a full explanation of the phrase and how to keep it safe, see Your Identity Key.
What mwen.io is not
- Not a password manager. mwen.io does not store website passwords.
- Not a VPN. mwen.io does not hide your IP address or network traffic.
- Not a blockchain wallet. mwen.io does not hold cryptocurrency or require a blockchain.
- Not a cloud service. mwen.io does not store your identity data on any server.