A Lightweight Blockchain Framework for Secure Academic Credential Verification Using Python and Docker

Abstract

Academic credentials are becoming more vulnerable by fraud, falsification, and inefficiencies in existing verification processes. This research uses Python and Docker to create a safe, lightweight, and flexible blockchain-based academic credential verification prototype. The approach uses a hybrid blockchain with personal validation nodes for institutional activities and public nodes for external verification. Cryptographic key-based credential signature, SHA-256 data hashing, QR code embedding for credential search and Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT) consensus for multi-node validation constitute vital developments. The prototype’s block replication speeds of 0.02 seconds and low resource utilisation (about 200 KB of RAM per transaction) make it appropriate for resource-constrained academic situations. Degrees are issued through a signed PDF certificate with a blockchain-verifiable QR code. Users may verify records using a public query interface employing the hash alone. This architecture has lower latency, simpler implementation, better modularity and better data privacy than Blockcerts & Ethereum-based registries. This study further supports academic institutions, professional licensing, legal documents and supply chain certification with a realistic and scalable basis for safe digital credentials.