Design and Development of a Blockchain and IPFS-Based Credential Verifier with Custom Lightweight Encryption for Secure Storage

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of certificate forgery in Bangladesh poses a significant threat to the credibility of academic and professional qualifications. To address this issue, a blockchain-based platform has been developed for securely certifying and storing certificates. The system employs an ultra-lightweight encryption algorithm to safeguard certificates before storing them on the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), ensuring both tamper resistance and protection against unauthorized access. A key feature of this system is its user-centric approach, granting certificate holders full control over access to their credentials. Data is decrypted only upon approval from the certificate owner for each verification request, adding an extra layer of security. The Ethereum blockchain is utilized to establish an immutable and permanent record of verified certificates, ensuring that only authentic credentials are recognized. By preventing the proliferation of fraudulent certificates, this approach enhances trust in academic and professional qualifications across Bangladesh.