The use of digital certificates is crucial for verifying the authenticity of various credentials in our digital age. However, traditional digital certificate systems suffer from centralization, vulnerability to tampering, and the risk of loss. This paper presents an approach to issuing and managing certificates as Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) on the Ethereum blockchain, ensuring their immutability and perpetual existence. The proposed system aims to overcome the limitations of traditional methods by utilizing decentralized storage through the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) and implementing a robust incentive mechanism for voting and Proof of Stake; the goal is to achieve true permanence and enhanced security for digital certificates. A first phase of a smart contract and front-end interface was achieved, to preserve diplomas and provide a reliable method for verifying their authenticity for employers and other stakeholders. This system, built on Ethereum and IPFS, faces several challenges that are being addressed through ongoing trials and discoveries. This paper is part of an ongoing effort to develop a robust system, create a prototype to validate the assumptions, and propose improvements for a global, enduring repository of certificates.

Authors: Aisha Lalli, Leandro R. Maciel, Aspen Olmsted

Published in: International Conference on Information Society (i-Society-2024)

• Date of Conference: 26-28 August, 2024
• DOI: 10.20533/iSociety.2024.0027
• ISBN: 978-1-913572-72-3
• Conference Location: Churchill College, Cambridge, UK