Blockchain technology adds a layer of security for any type of transaction, including awarding credentials. Once a credential is recorded on the blockchain, it can’t be altered, removed, or forged.
With 84% of employers having encountered misrepresented skills on resumes (2025 State of Credentialing), the ability to issue credentials that can’t be falsified is a practical response to a documented problem, not just a technical upgrade.
New to blockchain technology? We cover the basics of blockchain in the resources below:
- Blog: What are blockchain credentials?
- Help Centre: How Accredible uses blockchain technology
How does blockchain provide security for digital credentials?
When a digital credential is awarded to an individual, this is a type of transaction. The details of this transaction are recorded to the blockchain for additional security against fraud, removal, or unauthorized amendments.
Unlike a traditional ledger which stands alone and is physically maintained, the transaction recorded to the blockchain is written to all the nodes within the network once it is authenticated and authorized. Nodes are the individual computers and servers that hold a copy of the blockchain ledger, and together they number over 100,000 worldwide.
A node is any device that is connected to the internet including servers, phones, personal computers, IP webcams, etc. For full/super nodes to store blockchain records they require lots of available storage as a complete copy of the blockchain ledger is estimated at over 200GB in size.
How does blockchain improve credential security?
Nodes act as independent ledgers. If someone attempts to amend, remove, or falsify a record on the blockchain, they simultaneously need to hack or gain access to the majority of nodes that hold a copy of the blockchain. That’s the equivalent of hacking over 100,000 banks all over the world at the same time.
Transactions are only written to the blockchain if the majority of nodes agree that the transaction is valid. This is known as consensus. Node owners are incentivized to authenticate and authorize a transaction by way of reward (cryptocurrency). This process is called the ‘proof of work’.
In regard to security in blockchain for credentials, it is an assurance against individuals attempting to fraudulently record their own credentials on behalf of an issuer.
Can a blockchain credential be faked?
No. To forge or alter a blockchain-recorded credential, someone would need to simultaneously compromise more than half of all computers holding a copy of that blockchain: tens of thousands of servers, distributed globally. In practice, this isn’t achievable.
Different credential types have very different barriers to fraud. A paper certificate can be altered with basic design software. A standard digital credential is more secure, but only as secure as the platform hosting it. A blockchain-recorded credential sits at a different level entirely: if someone attempts to alter the recipient’s name, the qualification earned, or the issue date, the credential will fail verification. It no longer matches the original record on the blockchain.
This makes blockchain credentials particularly valuable in high-stakes contexts: university degrees, professional certifications, and product certifications where an employer or institution needs certainty that what they’re reviewing is what was actually awarded.
There’s an additional benefit that’s easy to overlook: a blockchain credential remains verifiable even if the issuing organization no longer exists. Because the verification record lives independently on the blockchain and not only on the issuer’s servers, the credential retains its integrity indefinitely.
Organizations like MIT Professional Education, the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), and 101 Blockchains issue blockchain-verified credentials through Accredible. MIT sees a 127% credential referral rate from its program, meaning more people click through to MIT’s courses from shared credentials than originally received them. IAPP issues approximately 20,000 credentials per year and saw a 96% increase in credential sharing after switching from paper.
How does blockchain keep data secure?
Data that is written to the blockchain is encrypted in the same way most data is encrypted using a public and private key or an encryption algorithm and an encryption key. This process takes plain text such as the sentence ‘his name is harold’ and makes it unreadable except to those with the correct decryption key.
Transactions that are recorded to the blockchain are completely transparent and available for anyone to see. It is the data within these transactions that can only be viewed when authorized by the involved parties, i.e. the issuing body and the recipient.
How does Accredible use blockchain to secure credentials?
Accredible uses the Ethereum blockchain to create a tamper-proof, permanently verifiable record of every credential it issues. Blockchain verification is included on every plan with no extra fee, no developer work required, and no additional steps for the issuer.
Accredible enables organizations to:
- Issue credentials with instant, third-party verification built in: any employer, institution, or client can verify a credential in seconds without creating an account
- Store an immutable hash of every credential on the Ethereum blockchain at the moment of issue, protecting against unauthorized edits after the fact
- Keep personal data off the blockchain entirely. Only an encrypted numerical hash is recorded, with the actual credential information stored in Accredible’s SOC 2 Type II certified, GDPR-compliant infrastructure
- Support open credentialing standards including Open Badge 3.0 and W3C Verifiable Credentials, so credentials are portable and verifiable across systems regardless of which platform issued them
- Give learners credentials they can accept and share without creating an account, so blockchain-verified credentials don’t just prove achievement, they spread it
Accredible is used by over 2,300 organizations worldwide, including MIT, the University of Cambridge, Google, and IAPP. Over 181 million credentials have been issued on the platform, with blockchain verification available as a built-in layer of protection on every credential.
Who it’s for: higher education institutions, professional associations, certification bodies, and technology companies issuing product certifications.
See what a blockchain-verified credential looks like from a recipient’s view: View a sample credential.
Frequently asked questions
What is digital credential blockchain security?
Once issued, digital credentials are written to the blockchain where they are protected against amendment, removal, or falsifying of information.
How does blockchain improve the security of digital credentials?
Blockchain security comes from the decentralization of digital ledgers known as nodes that store copies of the blockchain. The information stored on the blockchain can only be amended if the majority of nodes are changed simultaneously - the equivalent of hacking over 100,000 servers at the same time.
How does blockchain security protect private data?
The digital credential data stored within the recorded transaction is encrypted against unauthorized access, ensuring protection of personal data. The encrypted data is accessible only when authorized by the owners of the data, in the case of credentials, this is the issuing body and the recipient.
What data does Accredible store on the blockchain?
No personal data is recorded to the blockchain. Digital credentials that are written to the blockchain are recorded as a number that is generated based on the credential information.
How does a blockchain record get verified?
When clicking the ‘verify’ button on a blockchain credential, the Accredible platform compares the number generated on the live credential to the number previously written to the blockchain when the credential was first created.
Where does credential data get stored if not on the blockchain?
Accredible data is stored at a secure tier 3 SOC 2-certified data center. Our data is protected by bank-level security and we regularly test to ensure we are fully compliant for enterprise levels of security and privacy standards. More information about Accredible Data Security & Privacy Policies is available here.
What’s the difference between blockchain verification and standard digital credential security?
A standard digital credential is secured by the issuing platform’s own servers. A blockchain credential adds an independent, decentralized verification layer so the credential can be verified even if the issuing platform changes or closes. The blockchain record acts as a permanent reference point that no single party controls or can alter.
Accredible digital credentials can be written to the blockchain with the click of a button. No extra fees. No additional work required.
Ready to issue blockchain-secured credentials? Start free or talk to our team about what a program built on verified, shareable credentials can do for your organization.
Further Reading
Get the Digital Credentials Buyer’s Guide for a complete overview of digital credentials. The guide covers how digital credentials are used, how they support high-level strategies, and what goes into a quality digital credentialing solution.
