Blockcerts vs European Digital Credentials for Learning

Blockcerts is an open standard and open-source ecosystem for creating, issuing, receiving, and checking blockchain-based credentials and official records. Its intended settings include civic records, education, professional licensing, and workforce development. Recipients can use the Blockcerts app to receive, import, keep, and share credentials; a private passphrase supports ownership and recovery. A universal verifier checks records independently and can be incorporated into other software. Developer resources include Python tools for creating and issuing credentials, a JavaScript verification library for Node.js or browsers, and a standalone web verifier. The issuer library supports Bitcoin and Ethereum, while the standard is designed to work across blockchains. Verification checks issuer signatures and certificate data, including expiry and revocation. Issued certificates cannot be edited, though an issuer can revoke an incorrect one or issue a replacement batch. Blockchain data is a one-way hash of certificate information. Blockcerts is free; Bitcoin batch issuance may incur a variable network transaction fee.

European Digital Credentials for Learning provides tools for organisations to create, issue, view, store, share, and verify credentials for degrees, diplomas, micro-credentials, participation certificates, and other learning records. The Online Credential Builder makes reusable templates; the EDC Issuer can issue from those templates or take existing JSON credentials for sealing and delivery. Credentials may be emailed or sent to Europass and other EDC-compliant wallets, and holders can share links when their wallet supports them. The viewer checks matters including format, seal, owner, revocation, accreditation, and validity. Credentials need an advanced or qualified electronic seal, and the viewer checks its integrity. The infrastructure says it does not store the personal information layer added for recipients. It issues JSON-LD credentials aligned with W3C Verifiable Credential v1.1 and uses the European Learning Model. The web tools require free NexU software, which runs only on Windows. Issuer, Viewer, and Wallet components are open-source software for integration into an organisation’s own infrastructure. The infrastructure is free; the listed platforms are web and Windows.