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Blockcerts
What it is
Blockcerts is an open standard and open-source ecosystem for creating, issuing, holding, and verifying blockchain-based credentials and official records. Its intended uses include civic records, academic credentials, professional licenses, and workforce development. Recipients can use the app to receive, import, keep, and share credentials, with a private passphrase supporting ownership and recovery. A verifier independently checks issuer signatures and certificate data, including expiry and revocation status, and can be incorporated into existing software. Developers can use Python tools for creating and issuing credentials, a JavaScript verification library for Node.js or browsers, and a standalone web verifier. The issuer library supports Bitcoin and Ethereum, while the standard is designed to work across blockchains. The blockchain stores a one-way hash of certificate data rather than recoverable original information. Issued certificates cannot be edited; issuers can revoke an incorrect credential or issue a replacement batch. Separate certificates can provide high-level and detailed information, while single-certificate selective disclosure may be addressed in future releases. The app is free, but Bitcoin batch issuance can involve variable network fees.
For and against
For
- Recipients can receive, import, hold, and share credentials.
- Verification checks signatures, data, expiry, and revocation.
- Developer tools include Python and JavaScript options.
- Verifier can be integrated into existing software.
- Free app.
Against
- Bitcoin batch issuance may incur network fees.
- Issued certificates cannot be edited.
- Single-certificate selective disclosure may come in future releases.
The verdict
Blockcerts combines credential issuance and recipient wallets with independent verification and developer tools. Issuers should account for immutable certificates and possible Bitcoin transaction fees.
Who it suits
Blockcerts suits issuers and recipients working with digital credentials, as well as developers integrating credential verification. Its stated use cases include civic, academic, professional, and workforce records.
Plans and prices
Blockcerts App
recipient wallet · credential import and sharing · independent verification
Read 15 Oct 2026 · blockcerts.org
Blockcerts
Free app; issuing certificates may incur blockchain transaction fees
Read 9 Oct 2026 · blockcerts.org
On the record
- App privacy
- Apple's listing says the developer reports that the iOS wallet collects no data.apps.apple.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Blockchain support
- The standard began with Bitcoin, expanded to Ethereum and is designed to work across additional public or private blockchains.blockcerts.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Community implementation burden
- A forum response says adopters must assemble separate components and understand addresses, public keys and wallet funding for a production deployment.community.blockcerts.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Credential ownership
- Recipients control their credentials through a wallet and can share them without relying on the issuing institution for each verification.blockcerts.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Developer libraries
- The project provides cert-tools for creating certificates, cert-issuer for issuing them, cert-verifier-js for browser or Node verification, and a standalone verifier component.blockcerts.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Developer tools
- The project provides Python tools for creating and issuing credentials, a JavaScript verification library for Node.js or browsers, and a standalone web verifier.blockcerts.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- The official guide includes introduction, FAQ, quick start, recipient guidance, standards alignment and roadmap sections, supplemented by repository READMEs and examples.blockcerts.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Identity limit
- Blockcerts verifies claims and cryptographic ownership but does not itself prove that a public key belongs to a particular person or organization.blockcerts.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Immutability
- Issued certificates cannot be edited; an issuer can revoke an incorrect credential or issue a new batch.blockcerts.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Immutability limit
- Issued certificates cannot be edited; an issuer must revoke an incorrect certificate and issue another one.blockcerts.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Integrity and revocation
- Verification checks issuer signatures and certificate data and can check whether a credential has expired or been revoked.blockcerts.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Integrity checks
- Verification checks the issuer signature, certificate data, blockchain receipt and whether the credential is expired or revoked.blockcerts.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Issuance cost
- A Bitcoin transaction is used per certificate batch, and the transaction fee varies with network fees; the cert-issuer fee is configurable.blockcerts.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Issuing cost
- Issuing a Bitcoin batch involves a network transaction fee that varies with the recommended fee and can be configured in cert-issuer.blockcerts.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- License
- Core public repositories such as cert-issuer, cert-verifier-js and blockcerts-verifier are published under the MIT License.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: credential import errors
- A Google Play reviewer reported repeated errors when adding school credentials even after receiving a replacement one-time code.play.google.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: installation friction
- A Google Play reviewer said the app would not download on a phone and required a Chromebook workaround.play.google.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: iOS crashes
- Apple App Store reviewers reported startup crashes and described the app as unusable for them.apps.apple.com · read 15 Oct 2026
