The problem with how we've approached digital identity is that we locked it in place, stripped it of its dynamism. Platforms turned it into static credentials—a profile pic, a verification badge, a one-time attestation—and slapped the label "trust" on it. That's not how trust actually works though.

In the real world, trust builds gradually. It's accumulated through consistent behavior, repeated interactions, and earned credibility over time. You don't gain someone's confidence by waving an ID card once. Reputation is a living thing, not a frozen snapshot.