Certiblock: The Exemplary Utilization of Blockchain for the Rigorous Validation of Academic Certificates

Forgery of certificates is a prevalent concern in Southeast Asia, leading to deserving individuals missing out on job opportunities. When candidates apply for employment, they must provide their academic records as proof of their educational accomplishments, both in and out of school. It is crucial to conduct thorough verification of these academic documents before hiring to prevent fraudulent activities. The integration of blockchain technology presents a promising remedy for this issue. Blockchain technology provides an immutable and indisputable electronic certification system, making it significantly more difficult for individuals to manipulate their academic credentials. This article introduces a prototype for a model designed to authenticate academic credentials by leveraging the security features of both blockchain and the cloud storage.The certificates undergo a temporary storage phase in a server before being moved to the cloud, where a distinct hash code is created through a hashing algorithm. This hash code functions as the certificate’s distinct identifier and is securely stored within the blockchain nodes. Employers can subsequently authenticate an applicant’s qualifications by searching for their previously validated certificates. The adoption of cloud storage as an intermediate storage platform reduces the expenses associated with directly storing vast amounts of data in blockchain verification processes. Furthermore, a custom encryption algorithm is implemented in the system to ensure extra security.