AnonHire: A Decentralized Framework for Private and Verifiable Credentials

Abstract

Traditional credential verification depends on centralized authorities and manual validation, which are often slow, expensive, and vulnerable to manipulation. This paper presents AnonHire, a decentralized system that enables secure, privacy-preserving verification of academic and employment credentials. The framework combines Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI), blockchain anchoring, InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) storage, and a mock Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) layer for selective disclosure. Using Ethereum Sepolia smart contracts and an Express-Next.js stack, AnonHire provides credential issuance, verification, and revocation with minimal on-chain data and sub-second verification. Evaluations show low latency, low gas usage, and a practical path toward scalable, privacy-aware hiring ecosystems.