This is an entity that distributes credential to a specific holder.

For example, a vaccination centre that issues a patient with the Covid-19 vaccination or a university or exam board giving a qualification to a student. Issuers have the power to distribute and revoke a credential.

This is an entity that holds the issued credentials. The holder can share credentials with the verifier when needed.

For example, A patient that holds a Covid-19 vaccination credential can hold this in their wallet in preparation for travelling abroad to present to the air line for acceptance onto a flight.

This is an entity that the holder will share their credential with. The credential can then be verified and know that it comes from a valid, trusted issuer and also know that is has not been revoked by the issuer.

For example, an airline that has an access management system that only accepts holders with a valid Covid-19 vaccination onto their flight.

When we use the term “credentials” we are referring to some sort of qualification or achievement about an individual that would indicate, who they are, their citizenship or even their suitability for a job role. It is a catalogue of information that some authority says to be true about you.

For example, if you have graduated from a university, then the university (issuer) will supply you (holder) with a verified credential for the the degree in which you completed. This will hold information on the date you completed and with which grade you passed by. This credential can then be shared with a potential employee (verifier) to gain confidence that you are qualified for the job role.

Physical credentials such as a passport or driving licence holds some sort of proof of authenticity with a chip or hologram.

These can be tampered with and often forged on the black market. Although we can check authenticity with issuers directly, this process would be time consuming and difficult.

Physical credentials can also often hold more than one piece of information. We may need to asset our age, however must a bar tender know your address, just to verify your age?

Credentials must be issued by a 3rd party of whom has authoritive power of the individuals qualification or competence in a given subject or to pass specified criteria.

For example, The NHS are an authoritive power who can issue a Covid-19 vaccination credential to an indidual that has had their jabs.

Credentials are a way of proving to employers that an individual is competent within their chosen subject or to show specified information that is needed to be shared in order to qualify for something like a prescription from the Dr or to pass a Covid-19 test for entry into a venue.

For example, If a music artist put on a gig, and it was required for individuals to complete a Covid-19 test with a negative outcome prior to attending. Without producing credentials of a valid negative result they were not allowed into the venue.

There are many benefits to using Verafide. It allows an individual to share specific relevant information about themselves to a verifier without having to share other types of sensitive information that can be found on other forms of physical credentials.

For example, a bar tender that asks to verify your age does not need to see your address on a physical credential such as your driving licence.