A Faster, Integrated, and Trusted Certificate Authentication and Issuer Validation System Based on Blockchain

Aim:

            To build a fast and reliable system using blockchain that allows institutions to issue credentials and enables others to verify them instantly. The system also ensures the issuer is genuine, preventing any attempts at falsification.

Abstract:

            Verifying original documents like educational degree certificates is critical, as fake credentials disrupt hiring processes and lead to productivity losses. While previous studies offered ways to protect certificates, an integrated, tamper-proof, and affordable platform that validates both issuer and certificate remains elusive. To fill this gap, we propose a blockchain-based verification system on Ethereum, representing each participant—issuer, holder, verifier, and validator—as a distinct peer node. Our solution records certificates using hash mapping for fast lookup, ensuring integrity without high computational cost. We deployed smart contracts designed for efficiency, measuring performance and gas consumption during experimental validation. Results reveal minimal transaction costs for issuing certificates and significantly faster search times, especially when certificates are missing. Compared to before, search operations are drastically accelerated using hash-based retrieval. We also conduct a comparative gas analysis against similar systems, confirming reduced expenses. The architecture provides a unified platform that both verifies issuer authenticity and safeguards certificate integrity. This ensures institutions and end-users can rely on a lightweight and trustworthy verification process. The work paves the way for real-world adoption by minimizing cost and optimizing speed.

Proposed System:

            The platform is a web-based application with four roles: admin, institution, student, and company. The admin initiates the workflow by registering and verifying institutions. Once authorized, each institution conducts identity checks on students and issues certificates. These certificates are hashed, encrypted using a quantum‑resistant algorithm, and stored on the blockchain. When a student applies to a job, they upload their certificate as part of the application process. The company, acting as the verifier, retrieves the certificate and computes its hash. This computed hash is then compared against the blockchain record. A match confirms the certificate’s authenticity, while a mismatch flags it as fake. Students also have the option to securely download their verified certificates from our system. This end‑to‑end flow ensures verification at every stage and prevents fraudulent credentials from passing through undetected.

Advantages:

1. Structured multi‑role flow ensures clear verification responsibilities—from admin approval to institutional checks and company validation.
2. Quantum‑resistant encryption protects certificate data stored on-chain, guarding against emerging future threats.
3. Real‑time hash verification enables immediate authenticity checks during hiring, streamlining processes and deterring forgery.Html