A Decentralized Approach to Academic Certificate Management Using Blockchain and IPFS

Abstract- The increasing incidence of forged academic certificates has necessitated the development of secure, verifiable systems for credential management. This research proposes a decentralized approach to academic certificate issuance, storage, sharing, and verification utilizing blockchain technology and the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS). The system leverages blockchain's immutability to ensure trust and transparency, while IPFS provides decentralized and tamper-proof certificate storage. Advanced cryptographic techniques, including Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) and AES encryption, are incorporated to enhance data confidentiality during storage and transmission. Smart contracts deployed on the blockchain handle the logging and validation of certificate records, enabling seamless and trustless verification. The proposed system demonstrates a significant improvement over traditional centralized models by providing enhanced security, transparency, and resistance to document tampering. Experimental results validate the effectiveness and efficiency of the system, highlighting its potential as a reliable solution for academic institutions and verifiers worldwide. Keywords: Blockchain, Cryptography, SHA-256 hashing, Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC), AES encryption, Privacy, Tampering resistance, Forgery prevention, Operational efficiency, Smart Contracts, IPFS, Decentralised Storage