Ethereum: Implementing Ethereum (SIWE) Login and Account Deletion
As the demand for decentralized applications (dApps) continues to grow, so does the need for seamless interaction between different blockchain platforms. One key element in building secure and efficient dApps is implementing login functionality using Ethereum’s Web3 API. In this article, we will explore the Ethereum (SIWE) login concept and provide a step-by-step guide to implementing account deletion.
What is Ethereum Login?
Ethereum Login (SIWE) allows users to authenticate themselves to dApps without having to manually enter their private keys. This approach offers several benefits, including:
- Reduced friction for users: You don’t have to worry about losing or forgetting your private keys.
- Improved security: SIWE uses public key cryptography to securely authenticate identities.
- Better user experience: Users can focus on interacting with the application instead of managing their private keys.
ABNF (Abnormal Normalization Form) and Account Deletion
Implementing SIWE requires us to understand ABNF and account abstraction. ABNF is a formal grammar used to represent syntax in various programming languages. In this context, it helps us define the structure of Ethereum accounts.
An Ethereum account typically consists of:
- Key: a private key (public or private).
- Address: A unique identifier for the address.
- Balance: The current balance of the account.
- Transaction History: A list of transactions made to the account.
Account abstraction refers to the process of separating the logic of an application from its storage space. This allows us to decouple the application logic from the underlying blockchain state, making it easier to manage and update accounts.
Implementing SIWE with Ethereum
To implement SIWE in a web3.js-based dApp, follow these steps:
- Define your account structure: Create an abstract representation of your Ethereum account using ABNF.
- Sign in using the Web3 API: Use the web3 module’s ethSignMessage function to send a message to the Ethereum network with your private key and signature.
- Fetch signed data: The Web3 provider returns a response containing the signed data, which includes:
- Account address
- Balance
- Transaction history
- Organize signed data using ABNF: Use the ethabnf library to parse the signed data and extract the necessary information.
- Store signed data securely: Store signed data in a secure manner, such as using a JSON Web Token (JWT) or encrypted storage.
Sample Code
Here is an example of how you can implement SIWE with web3.js:
const Web3 = require('web3');
const ethAbnf = require('ethAbnf');
// Define your account structure in ABNF
const AccountStructure = {
key: 'private_key',
address: 'address',
balance: 'balance',
transaction_history: 'transaction_history'
};
// Create a new Web3 provider instance
const provider = new Web3(new Web3.providers.HttpProvider('
// Sign in to Ethereum using Web3 API
async function signIn() { .
const privateKey = 'private_key';
const signature = await provider.ethSignMessage(privateKey);
return {
address: signature.accountAddress,
balance : await provider . ethBalanceOf ( addressToSignIn , privateKey ) .
transaction history: []
};
} }
// Parse the signed data using ABNF
async function parseSignedData ( signedData ) { .
const abnfStructure = ethAbnf.parse(signedData);
return abnfStructure ;
} }
Conclusion
Implementing SIWE with Ethereum and the account abstraction requires a solid understanding of both concepts.