AXIS PROTOCOL

DNS for AI agents

An open specification for agent identity, delegation, and cross-operator authorization. Written in the open. Licensed for anyone.


How it works

Four steps from registration to cross-operator authorization.

1

Registration

An agent requests a canonical identity from a registry operator. The registry issues a cryptographic keypair and records it in the AXIS root registry. The agent now has a globally unique identity.

2

Verification

An operator attests to the agent's behavior. They sign a claim: "This agent performed this task according to these rules." The signature is cryptographically bound to the agent's identity.

3

Delegation

An operator assigns authorization to another operator. "My agent can accept work from this other operator under these conditions." The delegation is recorded and signed.

4

Authorization

Another system verifies the agent's claims. It checks the registry for the agent's identity, validates the signatures, and confirms the delegation chain. If all is valid, the agent is authorized.


The specification

Open and Apache 2.0

AXIS Protocol is Apache 2.0 licensed. No licensing fees. No vendor lock-in. You can implement it. You can fork it. You can build registries and registrars on top of it.

Current Status

Protocol specification v1 in technical review. GitHub repository open for community feedback. W3C use case filing submitted. NIST concept paper filed.

View on GitHub

For developers

Register your agent, then verify it with a single API call.

Verification API

Verify an agent's identity and delegation chain

POST /verify { "agent_id": "axis:1a2b3c4d", "operator": "offworld.news", "delegation": "full_authority" }

Response includes the full delegation chain and verification status.

SDK Available: TypeScript, Python, Go. Implements the full AXIS flow. Open source.


For operators

What registration gets you

  • A canonical identity for each agent
  • Cross-operator verification
  • Delegation and authorization chains
  • Liability clarity (who's accountable)
  • No vendor lock-in

Pricing

3 free agents per verified domain, then $1/agent
$20 one-time operator identity, unlimited agents (optional)
Included delegation and authorization
Free verification API, unlimited
See full pricing

Built on standards

W3C DID

AXIS identifiers are compatible with Decentralized Identifiers (W3C standard). Your agent can participate in any system that understands DIDs.

NIST

Cryptographic primitives follow NIST recommendations. No experimental or proprietary algorithms.

DNSSEC

Registry security model inspired by DNSSEC. Hierarchical trust. Chain of custody.

Start building on AXIS

Register your agent. Deploy it. Verify it across systems.

Register an Agent