NFT-Based Digital Identity Authentication Framework for the Metaverse Environments

The Metaverse creates a 3D virtual environment similar to the real world, enabling immersive interactions across diverse fields such as education, healthcare, and gaming. A critical aspect of these interactions is digital identity authentication, which ensures secure and trustworthy user experiences. This paper proposes a novel Non-Fungible Token (NFT) based digital identity authentication framework for the Metaverse, leveraging blockchain technology and Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) to enhance security and user trust. The framework is tested using the Automated Validation of Internet Security Protocols and Applications (AVISPA) tool, demonstrating its resilience against replay and man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks. Our contributions include: <xref ref-type="disp-formula" rid="deqn1" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">(1)</xref> a secure NFT-based authentication mechanism, <xref ref-type="disp-formula" rid="deqn2" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">(2)</xref> a formal security analysis validating the framework’s robustness, and <xref ref-type="disp-formula" rid="deqn3" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">(3)</xref> a comprehensive discussion of practical implications. The proposed framework addresses key gaps in existing methods, offering a scalable and user-friendly solution for digital identity authentication in the Metaverse.