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Lit Protocol

Decentralized access control.

About Lit Protocol​

Lit provides decentralized access control, programmable wallets, and serverless signing through threshold cryptography and Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs). Its network distributes encrypted key shares across nodes, ensuring no single entity controls full keys. Key offerings include:

  • Lit Actions: JavaScript-powered smart agents that execute condition-based workflows across blockchains and Web2 platforms.
  • Decentralized Key Management: Securely generate, store, and manage cryptographic keys without centralized custodians.
  • Cross-Chain/Web2 Interoperability: Unified access control for EVM chains (Ethereum, Polygon), Solana, Cosmos, and traditional web services.

As a pioneer in Web3 access control, Lit enables use cases like encrypted NFTs, data marketplaces, and self-sovereign identity systems, positioning it as critical infrastructure for user-owned internet applications.

Technology​

Lit’s architecture combines:

  • Threshold Signature Schemes (TSS): Splits keys into shares distributed across nodes, requiring consensus for reconstruction.
  • Identity-Based Encryption (IBE): Ties decryption rights to on-chain credentials (e.g., NFT ownership).
  • Access Control Conditions (ACCs): Boolean logic for defining permissions (e.g., “User holds NFT X AND ≥1 ETH”).
  • Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs): Hardware-enforced privacy for processing sensitive data.

This stack solves:

  • Key custodianship risks: Eliminates single points of failure in key storage.
  • Cross-platform fragmentation: Enables seamless interactions between Web2 services and multiple blockchains.
  • Data monetization: Allows users to commercialize private data without exposing raw information.

Key Features​

    1. Cross-Network Composability: Execute transactions and access data across EVM chains, Solana, Cosmos, and Web2 APIs.
    1. Programmable Cryptographic Agents: Deploy Lit Actions to automate multichain workflows (e.g., auto-compound yields across DeFi protocols).
    1. Zero-Knowledge Key Recovery: Retrieve lost keys via social credentials (Google OAuth, SIWS) without exposing secrets.
    1. Dynamic Content Gating: Encrypt files/IPFS content decryptable only by wallets meeting ACCs.
    1. Decentralized Signing Network: Generate network-level signatures for transactions or JWTs after condition verification.
    1. Wrapped Key System: Non-custodial wallets with programmable spending rules (e.g., "Allow Uniswap swaps ≤$500/day").
    1. Confidential Compute Layer: Process sensitive data (e.g., KYC details) within TEE-sealed environments.

Integration with Eliza​

ElizaOS integrates Lit via the @elizaos/plugin-lit module, which adds:

  • Lit Action Deployment: Directly publish JavaScript-based cryptographic agents to the Lit network.
  • Secure Transaction Signing: Use Lit’s threshold signatures for wallet operations like ERC-20 transfers or Uniswap swaps.
  • Encrypted Memory Management: Protect Eliza agent data in OrbisDB using Lit’s ACC-gated decryption.

Example workflow:

await elizaOS.lit.initialize();
const signature = await elizaOS.lit.tools.ecdsaSign({
  message: 'Agent instruction',
  chain: 'solana',
});

This enables Eliza agents to autonomously execute cross-chain transactions while maintaining compliance with predefined access policies.

Recent Developments​

  • Solana Mainnet Integration (2024): Added support for Solana program interactions and SPL token-gated content.
  • v1 Network Launch: Transitioned to a fully decentralized node network with over 50 operators.
  • 24M+ Requests Processed: Milestone hit in Q1 2025, primarily driven by NFT platforms and DeFi automation.

Market Position​

Lit dominates decentralized key management with no direct competitors offering equivalent cross-chain TEE/MPC solutions. Key partnerships include:

  • Crossmint: Lit powers unlockable content for NFT collections.
  • Collab.Land: Enables token-gated Discord/Telegram access.
  • Streamr: Provides encryption for decentralized data streams.

Adoption metrics:

  • 180+ projects built on Lit (2025).
  • 40% month-over-month growth in Solana-based integrations since 2024.