# Polygon ID Rebrands as Billions, Secures $30M to Advance Trusted Digital Identity By [Scarlettway](https://paragraph.com/@scarlettway) · 2025-08-07 polygon --- Billions, the first human-AI universal network, aims to extend mobile-first, privacy-first verification to billions of users—and future AI agents—establishing a foundational infrastructure for trusted interactions between humans and machines. ### **$30M Funding Round Led by Polygon** Earlier this month, Billions announced a $30 million funding round led by Polygon, with participation from Polychain, Coinbase Ventures, LibertyCity Ventures, BITKRAFT Ventures, and other prominent crypto and AI infrastructure investors. Shortly after the announcement, Kaito’s Web3 crowdfunding platform, CapitalLaunchpad, revealed plans to list Billions Network on August 6. According to Kaito’s real-time data, Billions currently accounts for 8.03% of recent on-chain activity, ranking first on its leaderboard. Originally spun out from Polygon ID, Billions has carved a niche in decentralized identity with its innovative approach. * * * ### **Roots in Polygon: Team and Tech Legacy** Billions’ successful $30M raise stems not only from its focus on digital identity—a sector poised for growth—but also from its team’s deep ties to Polygon. The project evolved from **Privado ID**, formerly known as **Polygon ID**, which spun off from Polygon Labs in June 2024 to specialize in on-chain identity and reputation solutions. Key team members include: * **David Z (Co-founder)**: A Polygon founder and former CTO, he led Polygon ID and Polygon zkEVM and oversees the ZKP-based identity protocol Iden3. * **Evin McMullen (Co-founder & CSO)**: A decentralized identity pioneer, she founded Disco.xyz and merged it with Privado ID in September 2024 to accelerate cross-chain identity infrastructure. While Polygon co-founders like Sandeep Nailwal (now CEO of Polygon Foundation) remain advisors, others, such as Antoni Martin and Jordi Baylina, have stepped back from active roles. * * * ### **The First Human-AI Universal Network** Launched in February 2025, Billions bills itself as the **first network bridging humans and AI agents**. Its key innovations: * **Hardware-Free Verification**: Users authenticate via passport and smartphone (NFC or camera) in seconds, with ZK-proofs securing sensitive data. * **AI Agent Integration**: AI systems can verify training models and data sources, enabling trust in scenarios like customer service and content generation. * **Scalable Adoption**: A mobile app released in June attracted **1M+ pre-registered users**, offering reusable Verifiable Credentials and a "one-login, multi-access" feature. The network also adopts a **B2B2C model**, charging per verification while sharing fees with node operators. Early partners include Aurora, Avalanche, SingularityNET, and major banks like Deutsche Bank and HSBC. * * * ### **Balancing Uniqueness and Anonymity** Billions tackles a core challenge in decentralized identity: **preserving anonymity while ensuring uniqueness**. Its solution: * **Profiles Mechanism**: Generates unique, non-linkable DIDs per app using random `profileNonce` and a master `genesis_identifier`. * **Context-Based Unique Identifiers (CBUID)**: Allows compliance-ready identity recovery without sacrificing default privacy. Built on **Circom** (a ZK library powering Worldcoin, TikTok, and 9,000+ projects), Billions eliminates reliance on centralized databases or biometric hardware. * * * ### **Global Ecosystem and Regulatory Challenges** Billions’ partnerships span governments, institutions, and crypto projects: * **SingularityNET**: Co-developing a **Decentralized AI Agent Trust Registry** for verifiable AI credentials. * **Sentient**: Integrating ZK proofs for AI model auditing without exposing training data. * **India’s Aadhaar**: Piloting decentralized identity for national ID holders. However, regulatory hurdles loom. While Billions avoids biometrics (unlike Worldcoin, recently flagged by China for iris-data risks), its cross-border data flows will face scrutiny over sovereignty and compliance. * * * ### **Conclusion: Identity for the Human-AI Era** Billions redefines digital identity by merging **privacy, scalability, and AI compatibility**. As it navigates global adoption, its success hinges on balancing innovation with regulatory trust—a challenge as complex as the technology itself. For developers, its SDKs (React, Vue, Android, iOS) promise seamless integration. For users, it offers control: **self-sovereign identities, revocable credentials, and immunity to mass surveillance**. The question remains: Can Billions become the universal standard before regulators draw harder lines? Time—and technology—will tell. --- *Originally published on [Scarlettway](https://paragraph.com/@scarlettway/polygon-id-rebrands-as-billions-secures-dollar30m-to-advance-trusted-digital-identity)*