Dikshit

Degree fraud detection using blockchain

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Revolutionizing Certificate Validation

Inspiration

Our journey began with an unexpected twist at our university (KU). While trying to submit a leave letter for a week-long workshop, I found the Dean’s office locked by student union leaders. Curiosity led us to uncover a shocking scandal: seven students had graduated without attending classes or passing their exams, causing the entire administration to shut down. This eye-opening incident exposed deep flaws in the academic system, sparking our drive to build a secure and transparent solution for certificate validation. As we delved deeper, we realized this issue wasn’t just local—it’s a global challenge faced by institutions everywhere.

What We Learned

  • Understanding the Problem: Academic fraud is a global issue, demanding decentralized, secure solutions.
  • Exploring Technologies:
    • Blockchain: Provides immutability and transparency.
    • Multi-Signature Authentication: Ensures decisions are verified by multiple admins.
    • Zero-Knowledge Proof (zk-proof): Allows external verification of credentials without exposing sensitive data.
    • NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens): Represent tamper-proof, digital academic records.
  • Collaboration: Partnering with the education ministry ensures legal authority and wider adoption.

How We Built It

  1. Admin Workflow:
    • University admins upload semester marks.
    • Multi-signature approval from five admins ensures data integrity.
  2. Time Validation:
    • Prevents uploading new semester data within a fixed 6-month interval.
  3. NFT Generation:
    • Each semester's marks are converted into NFTs upon approval.
    • A final transcript NFT combines all semester NFTs, ensuring a tamper-proof academic record.
  4. zk-Proof Integration:
    • Enables institutions to verify credentials without revealing detailed marks.

Tech Stack: Ethereum blockchain for smart contracts, Node.js for backend, React.js for frontend, and cryptographic libraries for zk-proofs.

Challenges

  1. Learning Curve: Understanding blockchain, zk-proofs, and multi-signature authentication was challenging for first-time users.
  2. Admin Coordination: Designing a multi-admin verification process while avoiding bottlenecks.
  3. NFT Integration: Aligning academic records with ERC-721 standards.
  4. Legal Considerations: Ensuring compliance with local laws for scalability.
  5. Time Constraints: Balancing development, testing, and integration within hackathon deadlines.

Outcome

This project is more than just a hackathon submission; it addresses systemic issues in academic certification. We built a functional prototype that ensures transparency and accountability, learning valuable lessons about collaboration, innovation, and real-world problem-solving. This is a step toward transforming certificate validation globally.

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