Conducting a Usability Evaluation of Decentralized Identity Management Solutions

New approaches to identity management based on technologies such as blockchain and distributed ledgers are promoted as a chance to give users full control over their own identity data. Despite being often called the future of digital identity management, Decentralized Identity Management (DIdM) and Self-sovereign Identities (SSI) are still facing a number of challenges, usability being a major one: their concepts are too sophisticated for users and do not fit their mental models. We address this by conducting a study that analyses and evaluates the usability and practical applicability of some of the most advanced DIdM solutions. The results of the user tests reveal existing usability issues and outline the way they deprive end users of experiencing the entire range of claimed privacy and security benefits of these identity solutions.