Enhancing Educational Certificate Verification With Blockchain and IPFS: A Decentralized Approach Using Hyperledger Fabric

Abstract

Educational certificate counterfeiting poses a significant global challenge, demanding urgent attention and robust solutions. This paper addresses the problem of forgery and verification of educational certificates by leveraging blockchain technology as an anti-counterfeiting measure. A decentralized architecture for educational certificate verification systems is proposed and implemented using the Hyperledger Fabric as a blockchain platform and the Inter Planetary File System (IPFS). By utilizing the unique features of these technologies, we aim to establish a reliable and secure system for verifying authenticity of educational certificates without relying on third-party intermediaries. Our approach involves storing educational certificate files on a decentralized file system, namely IPFS, ensuring their integrity and accessibility. To enable efficient verification, each certificate is associated with a certificate ID, which retrieves the necessary validating information from the Hyperledger Fabric network. This integration ensures that educational certificates are securely stored on the blockchain, preventing any tampering attempts and enabling easy validation. The experimental results demonstrate that educational certificates are stored on the Hyperledger Fabric network in a manner that ensures their immutability, making it impossible to alter them. Furthermore, the system allows for verification of their authenticity without the need for any third-party intervention. By combining the power of blockchain technology with IPFS, our solution provides a robust approach to tackle the growing issue of educational certificate counterfeiting. This research contributes to the field by offering a decentralized architecture that enhances the security and trustworthiness of educational certificate verification systems.