PIC Model — Provenance Identity Continuity for Distributed Execution Systems

The Provenance Identity Continuity (PIC) Model introduces the Executor-First paradigm, in which identity does not reside in transferable artifacts but emerges from the execution state and its verifiable causal origin. The model defines structural invariants for multi-hop distributed execution, replacing Proof of Possession with hop-by-hop Proof of Continuity (PoC). PIC treats execution as a distributed transaction whose provenance is extended through non-transferable Causal Attestations (PCA). Each hop must be causally attested by its predecessor, preventing impersonation, replay, and artifact inheritance. By binding authority to the executor that continues the transaction—rather than to artifacts—PIC is designed to structurally resolve the Confused Deputy problem, where delegation occurs without enforcing that the executor is the intended recipient of authority. The model supports identity-centric and anonymous capability flows, reducing identity exposure while preserving verifiable causal continuity. This publication presents the conceptual framework; formal derivations, reference implementations, and empirical evaluation will follow in subsequent releases.