Decentralized Degree Authentication Using Ethereum Smart Contracts and Hybrid Off-Chain Storage

Abstract

A decentralized system for academic credential verification using Ethereum blockchain and hybrid off-chain storage. The system replaces traditional manual verification by allowing institutions to issue digitally signed certificates whose cryptographic hashes are stored on-chain, ensuring immutability and tamper resistance. A dual-hashing approach (SHA-256 followed by Keccak-256) is used to enhance security and maintain compatibility with the Ethereum ecosystem. Credential files are stored off-chain (e.g., Supabase/IPFS) to reduce cost, while verification is performed by comparing hashes, achieving fast (under a few seconds) and reliable authentication. Overall, the paper demonstrates a scalable, secure, and efficient solution for real-world use cases such as academic admissions and recruitment.