A method of associating user identity with an autonomous agent embodied on a blockchain stored in a blockchain network, the method comprising the following steps: a user engaging in a user authentication process to obtain a set of one or more verified identity attributes of the user; computing an identity hash, by applying a hash function to input data comprising the set of verified identity attributes; and sending to the blockchain network a data package comprising the identity hash and an identifier of the autonomous agent; wherein the autonomous agent is embodied on the blockchain as program code and at least one associated state register for storing associated program state, and wherein the data package causes at least a portion of the autonomous agent's program code to be executed on a node of the blockchain network, which upon execution stores the identity hash in the at least one state register of the autonomous agent.