title: Identification in a distributed p2p network
body: <p>SCENARIO: a P2P distributed network in which users connect by a DHT. They identify themselves by a hexadecimal 76-character string.</p>
  
  <p>PROBLEM: users need to choose their own ID, not have a really long and random one assigned to them. And with security in mind, the network needs to remain 100% distributed, so servers with pubkey:username aren't possible.</p>
  
  <p>POSSIBLE SOLUTION: distributed databases. However, how can we guarantee the uniqueness of the username? A blockchain à la bitcoin isn't a possibility because downloading gigabytes of data also isn't user friendly and also not useful for dynamic content.</p>
  
  <p>POSSIBLE SOLUTION: Distributed file systems such as Tahoe-LAFS. Extremely complicated and overkill, not easily or cleanly implemented.</p>
  
  <p>So, the issue is having user-friendliness and security/distribution at the same time.</p>
  
  <p>Any ideas?</p>