# Biometric Marketplace

The Biometric Marketplace is a modular system that allows multiple biometric providers to plug into the Humanode network. Instead of relying on a single algorithm or vendor, the network supports a set of interchangeable biometric modules that follow the Proof-of-Biometric-Uniqueness standard and run inside Confidential Virtual Machines.

The Biometric Marketplace enables:

* Integration of multiple biometric vendors into Humanode or any PoBU-compatible system\ <br>
* Competition based on accuracy, privacy, performance, and cost\ <br>
* Fallback and redundancy if a provider is compromised or becomes unavailable\ <br>
* Vendor independence, avoiding lock-in to a single company or algorithm

### Components

| Biometric Provider Module | A plug-in that performs liveness detection, feature extraction, and matching                   |
| ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Verification Layer        | Middleware that makes different biometric tech PoBU compatible                                 |
| CVM Runtime Environment   | All biometric modules run inside Confidential Virtual Machines to ensure privacy and isolation |
| On-chain Registry         | DAO-managed list of active biometric providers                                                 |
| Performance Monitoring    | Tracks accuracy, latency, and operational integrity over time                                  |

All providers in the marketplace must be compatible with CVMs. CVMs protect biometric processing from the host environment and ensure that no raw data or templates ever leave the secure enclave. This setup aligns with the Humanode trust model and is technically compatible with most biometric systems already in use today.

While multiple providers can exist in the marketplace, each user is verified through a core provider to prevent duplicate enrollments or evasion of uniqueness constraints. Redundancy is introduced at the network level - not at the user level - to ensure continuity in case of failure or removal of a provider.

DAO governance manages the lifecycle of each provider, including onboarding, auditing, and removal. This ensures that the biometric verification layer remains functional and secure without compromising on privacy or decentralization.<br>

By decoupling biometric logic from the protocol, Humanode allows:

* Continuous adaptation to new biometric techniques
* Replacement of compromised or outdated providers without disrupting the network
* Strong enforcement of privacy through uniform CVM isolation
* Avoidance of centralization at the biometric layer

The Biometric Marketplace ensures that uniqueness verification remains a flexible yet controlled part of the system, capable of evolving without compromising its core guarantees.


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://whitepaper.humanode.io/whitepaper/biometric-marketplace.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.