Answers

Blockchain-Backed Credentials in Education and Business

Quick answer

Schools and businesses can use blockchain-backed credentials as an approach to issuing credentials. The work described here connects credential issuance with verifiable credentials and decentralized identity concepts. Before adopting it, issuers should consider how the approach fits their existing systems, how those systems work together, and what governance and assurance they need.

Start with the credential you need to issue

For an educator, the starting point is the educational credential being issued. For a business, it is the business credential. In either setting, define the issuing process and its purpose before choosing a blockchain approach. Blockchain-backed issuance in education and business was among the technology work described in a May 2020 CryptoNinjas article about Rohan Hall’s historical work at Vottun.

Understand the identity connection

This area of work also includes verifiable credentials, decentralized identity and DID, and W3C Self-Sovereign Identity concepts. These are useful topics for an issuer to explore alongside blockchain-backed issuance, rather than treating a blockchain choice as the whole credential strategy.

Evaluate the broader technology fit

Credential plans should account for interoperability and the ability to build scalable applications. Rohan Hall has built and led technology work in both blockchain interoperability and scalable blockchain applications. For an organization considering adoption, the practical questions include how the proposed approach fits its systems and what evidence, transparency, governance, assurance and standards it will rely on to build trust.

Frequently asked questions

Are blockchain-backed credentials only for education?: No. The documented work describes issuing blockchain-backed credentials in both education and business.
Where should we go deeper on identity terminology?: Explore how verifiable credentials, decentralized identity and self-sovereign identity relate before deciding how those concepts fit your credential plans.
What should an organization examine beyond credential issuance?: Look at interoperability, scalability, governance, assurance and relevant standards as part of the adoption decision.

Read about verifiable credentials and decentralized identity, then consider which questions your issuing team needs to answer.