Eco-System

V1.0

These guidance documents are targeted at holders and issuers who use the RCL Verifiable Credentials Web/Mobile Wallet and the Issuer App to manage digital credentials.

What are Verifiable Credentials

Verifiable Credentials are issued to holders to recognize their achievements. They are machine-readable and are secured by cryptographic methods to maintain confidentiality and integrity. They are shareable utilizing the technology available and portable as they can be interchanged among computer systems without any modifications.

Roles in the Verifiable Credentials Eco-System

Issuer

An issuer is an organization or individual that issues a verifiable credential to a holder who has demonstrated achievement in a particular area of skill and knowledge.

Holder

A holder is an individual who receives a verifiable credential from the issuer as recognition for their achievement.

Verifier

A holder will share their verifiable credentials with verifiers to check their validity and make a determination on the holder’s achievement, eg. for employment or promotion. Verifiers can include employers.

Specifications

W3C Verifiable Credentials (VCs)

The W3C Specification for Verifiable Credentials outlines the technical specification that the credentials must comply with. It is an internationally recognized specification that ensures the credentials are secure, easily shared, transferable, authentic and verifiable.

Open Badges 3.0 (OBs)

The Open Badges 3.0 specification is aligned to the W3C Specification for Verifiable Credentials and provides a data model specific to education and training and the interchangeability mechanisms among computer systems.

W3C Decentralized Identifier (DID)

The W3C Decentralized Identifier is a specification to identify entities such as the holders and issuers of verifiable credentials. It provides the entities with a unique identification for security and validity.

Applications

RCL Verifiable Credentials Web Wallet

The web wallet is a web application used by holders to store and share their verifiable credentials with verifiers.

RCL Verifiable Credentials Mobile Wallet

The credentials mobile wallet is a native mobile application on Android, iOS and Windows where holders can store and display their credentials to verifiers.

RCL Verifiable Credentials Issuer App

A web application that an issuer uses to create and issue verifiable credential to holders.

RCL Verifiable Credentials Verifier App

A web application that a verifier uses to view verifiable credentials shared by holders.