Verifiable Credentials

Organizations can issue their degrees, IDs, licenses, and more as verifiable digital credentials securely stored in a digital identity wallet. This wallet is a digital counterpart to a physical one, accessible via mobile applications on phones, computers, or even cloud-based servers. Verifiable Credentials, a digital and cryptographically secure iteration of both paper and digital credentials, reliably validate aspects of one's identity or qualifications. Individuals can then present these credentials to organizations requiring verification, envisioning a digital landscape where identity documents, academic achievements, licenses, and more are instantly verifiable.

Standards and Protocols

The Verifiable Credentials Data Model 1.0, established by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), serves as a standard for digital credentials. When credentials adhere to this model, they earn the title of Verifiable Credentials. This specification ensures credentials are expressed on the web in a cryptographically secure, privacy-respecting, and machine-verifiable manner. The W3C, an international community dedicated to setting web standards, including URL structures and decentralized identifiers, plays a pivotal role in defining these standards. Verifiable Credentials constitute one of the three pillars of Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI), alongside blockchain and decentralized identifiers. SSI empowers individuals with control over their digital identities, marking a significant shift in the approach to digital identity management.