verifiablecredentials

Verifiable credentials (VCs) are a standard for digitally representing claims about a person or entity that can be cryptographically verified and independently trusted. A VC is issued by a trusted issuer to a holder and presented to a verifier to prove the stated claims. The concept is defined by the W3C Verifiable Credentials Working Group and is designed to work with decentralized identifiers (DIDs) and portable wallets.

In a typical flow, an issuer creates a credential containing specific claims (for example, name, degree, or license) about the holder, signs it with the issuer’s private key, and associates it with the issuer’s DID. The holder stores the credential in a digital wallet and can present a verifiable presentation (VP) to a verifier. The verifier checks the cryptographic proof, issuer authority, and, if applicable, the credential’s revocation status.

Key components include DIDs, the Verifiable Credential Data Model, and cryptographic proofs. Credential status mechanisms, such as revocation lists, enable verification of current validity. The specifications describe how credentials are issued, stored, presented, and verified across systems while preserving user control over data.

Privacy features include selective disclosure—revealing only needed attributes—and, in some cases, cryptographic zero-knowledge proofs to demonstrate possession of a claim without exposing all data. These capabilities support data minimization, consent, and cross-domain trust.

Applications span educational certificates, professional licenses, employment attestations, identity verification, and government services. Adoption challenges include interoperability, governance frameworks, revocation management, and alignment with privacy regulations such as GDPR. The ecosystem continues to evolve toward portable, user-centered digital identity.