Unlocking Secure Logins with Blockchain Wallets and Public-Key Encryption

The Role of Cryptographically-Secure Blockchains

Cryptographically-secure blockchains prove ownership of an account by signing data with a private key. This signature can also be used to write transactions to a blockchain. By leveraging this technology, we can create a message-signing-based authentication mechanism that uses a user’s public address as their identifier.

Web3 Wallets: The Key to Authentication

Web3 wallets play a vital role in Web3 environments, providing a secure way to authenticate users. Among the leading Web3 wallet options, we’ll be using MetaMask in this tutorial.

Setting Up Our React App with Ceramic

To get started, we’ll need Node.js ≥ v14 and npm ≥ v6. We’ll create a new React application with Next.js and install the necessary dependencies.

npx create-next-app my-app
cd my-app
npm install @ceramicnetwork/js-ceramic

Ceramic relies on decentralized identifiers (DIDs) for user accounts, which are compatible with all blockchain wallets.

Hosting Data with Ceramic

Our application will utilize the Ceramic data network to store, modify, and retrieve data. By creating a basic user registry, we’ll enable authenticated accounts to perform transactions on the network.

import { CeramicClient } from '@ceramicnetwork/js-ceramic';

const ceramic = new CeramicClient();

const createUserRegistry = async () => {
  // Create a basic user registry
  const registry = await ceramic.createDocument('user-registry');
  //...
};

Implementing Web3 Authentication in React

The auth API checks if the user’s account exists in the user registry. If not, a new user is created, and a cryptographic nonce is assigned. This nonce is used to sign the request from the client, enabling authentication on the server.

import Web3 from 'web3';

const web3 = new Web3(window.ethereum);

const authenticateUser = async () => {
  // Check if user's account exists in the user registry
  const userExists = await ceramic.getDocument('user-registry', userId);
  if (!userExists) {
    // Create a new user and assign a cryptographic nonce
    const nonce = await generateNonce();
    //...
  }
  // Sign the request from the client using the nonce
  const signature = await web3.eth.sign(nonce, userId);
  // Authenticate on the server using the signature
  //...
};

Adding Multiple Providers with Web3Modal

The Web3Modal library allows us to add support for multiple providers in our application. By incorporating MetaMask and Tor.us, we’ll provide users with a seamless login experience.

import Web3Modal from 'web3modal';

const web3Modal = new Web3Modal({
  network: 'ainnet',
  cacheProvider: true,
  providerOptions: {
    metamask: {
      id: 'etamask',
      type: 'injected',
    },
    torus: {
      package: Torus,
    },
  },
});

const providers = await web3Modal.getProviders();
//...

Bringing it All Together

By combining these technologies, we’ve created a cryptographically-secure login flow that leverages the power of blockchain wallets and public-key encryption. With this innovative approach, we’re paving the way for a more secure and efficient authentication process.

• Using blockchain wallets and public-key encryption for secure authentication
• Leveraging Ceramic for decentralized data storage and retrieval
• Implementing Web3 authentication in React using Web3.js and Web3Modal

Learn more about Web3 authentication and blockchain technology.