# Patient Onboarding and Data Contribution

The onboarding journey is simple, secure, and transparent:

1. **Create a DeMedic Wallet**\
   Users create or connect a crypto wallet, which becomes their identity anchor on the platform. No personal identifiers are required at this stage—DeMedic uses pseudonymous blockchain identities for maximum privacy.
2. **Verify Health Identity (Optional)**\
   For users who wish to participate in sensitive research, DeMedic offers optional identity verification and Know Your Patient (KYP) modules. These use decentralized identity standards and encrypted document verification.
3. **Connect or Upload Health Data**\
   Patients can upload files directly (e.g., PDFs, images, wearable exports), or connect APIs to providers, wearables (Apple Health, Fitbit, etc.), genomics services, or electronic health record systems.
4. **Set Data Permissions**\
   The user sets detailed permission rules:

* What data is available
* Which types of projects can access it
* Geographic or institutional restrictions
* Duration and conditions of use

All of these are written into a personal data smart contract, which governs future access and is fully editable by the user.

5. **Receive $DMEDI for Participation**\
   When a research project utilizes their data, the user receives an instant $DMEDI token payment into their wallet—automatically triggered by smart contract execution.
