Utilizing Hyperledger Fabric Based Private Blockchain and IPFS to Secure Educational Certificate Management

In recent decades, the quantity of fake educational certificates has increased, damaging testing centers’ reputations. The most common verification methods include email, phone, and proxy for background checking, which require additional costs, security, and time. As these processes are not transparent enough, it is possible to create counterfeit certificates easily. Blockchain- based solutions have basic features such as security, proof of disruption, transparency, and compliance, which give a secure network the ability to store only genuine certificates. Additionally, data history can be managed on a blockchain network in case of suspicious activity. In this project, we analyzed blockchain technology and established a blockchain-based education certification system for the issuance and certification of certificates using the hash algorithm technology for encryption and confidentiality of educational certificates to prevent disruption and copyright restrictions. The InterPlanetary File System, a peer- to-peer based decentralized storage, is used to store the soft copy of the certificates by generating a hash for each certificate. This study offers Hyperledger Fabric-based application development concepts, including the processing of assets and generating immutable transactions, to create a comprehensive private blockchain-based educational certificate management.