## 2 Background
### Components of SSI  
The management and application of digital identities can be transformed by SSI in the Metaverse. Users are empowered, privacy and security are improved, trust and interoperability are fostered, innovation is stimulated, and inclusivity is expanded. This revolutionary method of identity management is the cornerstone of a Metaverse ecosystem that is more flexible, safe, and user-oriented.  
In the Metaverse, DIDs offer unique, pseudonymous identities that are connected to cryptographic keys. They enable users to create and manage their digital identities throughout the Metaverse while remaining anonymous. DIDs give users the freedom to manage and resolve their identifiers on their own without depending on centralized authorities. In addition to ensuring autonomy, this decentralization lowers the possibility of identity theft and manipulation. Because IDs are meant to be compatible with various Metaverse platforms, users can use the same one and keep their virtual identity constant [15].  
SSI in the Metaverse places users in control of their identities, emphasizing user autonomy, privacy, and security. SSI ensures the trustworthiness and authenticity of identity-related information, fostering secure interactions and transactions within virtual environments. Adoption of SSI standards in the Metaverse encourages innovation, supports new use cases, and fosters the growth of a vibrant ecosystem with diverse virtual identities and credentials [16]. SSI in the Metaverse represents a paradigm shift in identity management, offering users unprecedented control, privacy, and security in their digital interactions across immersive virtual worlds.  
SSI in the Metaverse grants users true ownership and control over their digital identities and personal data. Users have the authority to manage, share, and revoke access to their identity information across different virtual spaces. SSI empowers users to provide explicit consent for sharing specific attributes or credentials [17], ensuring they disclose only relevant information required for interactions or transactions within the Metaverse. Users can seamlessly carry their digital identities and credentials across various Metaverse platforms, fostering continuity and persistence of their online personas regardless of the virtual environment.  
SSI reduces reliance on centralized databases and authorities, mitigating the risks associated with single points of failure, data breaches, and unauthorized access. This decentralized approach enhances security and privacy. SSI enables the use of zero-knowledge proofs, allowing users to prove possession of certain information without revealing the information itself [18]. This cryptographic method enhances privacy while validating credentials or attributes. Storing identity-related data on decentralized ledgers ensures immutability and tamper-resistance, enhancing trust and confidence in the authenticity of digital identities and credentials.  
While the concept of the Metaverse is still in its infancy, various implementations of VWs such as Second Life, Meta Horizons, Fortnite, Decentralized, Roblox, Otherside, and The Sandbox are being built using different technologies and do not intend for their avatars, ecosystems, and currencies to be interoperable with one another [6]. The future Metaverse is imagined as a single, fully connected, decentralized 3D network where all the sub-Metaverses coexist in a manner that users can easily traverse from one section to another, offering the greatest possible experience for users who wish to navigate the virtual world via their avatar, and nobody owns it [12].