ZKBAR-V Core (Zero-Knowledge Based Academic Record Verification) is a decentralized, privacy-preserving platform for issuing, storing, and verifying academic credentials.
The platform combines permissioned blockchain, public blockchain anchoring, decentralized storage, and zero-knowledge cryptography to allow secure academic credential verification without revealing sensitive student data.
Using Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), students can prove qualifications (e.g., GPA threshold) without exposing their actual GPA or transcript.
The system integrates multiple decentralized technologies.
Stores structured academic metadata:
- GPA
- Degree Name
- IPFS CID
- Document Hash
Fabric ensures:
- Institutional control
- Tamper-proof academic records
- Permissioned access
Credential hashes are anchored on a public blockchain using smart contracts.
Smart contracts:
AnchorRegistry.sol
GpaVerifier.sol
This provides:
- Public verifiability
- Credential authenticity
- Revocation checks
without revealing private academic information.
Encrypted transcript documents are stored on IPFS.
Benefits:
- Decentralized file storage
- Content-addressable retrieval
- Reduced reliance on centralized infrastructure
Only encrypted documents are uploaded.
Privacy logic is implemented using Circom + snarkjs.
Example proof:
GPA >= 3.0
without revealing the actual GPA.
Circuit file:
gpa_proof.circom
The backend acts as the coordination layer.
Responsibilities:
- Encrypt and upload files to IPFS
- Interact with Hyperledger Fabric
- Execute Ethereum smart contract calls
- Generate ZK proofs
- Verify proofs
- Serve REST APIs
A web interface for:
- Universities
- Students
- Employers
Functions include:
- Credential issuance
- Proof generation
- Credential verification
Universities generate and manage academic credentials.
Responsibilities:
- Register student identities (DIDs)
- Encrypt and upload transcripts to IPFS
- Store metadata on Hyperledger Fabric
- Anchor document hashes on Ethereum
- Revoke credentials if necessary
Students retain control over their academic records.
Capabilities:
- Access issued credentials
- Decrypt transcripts from IPFS
- Generate Zero-Knowledge Proofs
- Share proofs with employers
Example:
Prove GPA >= 3.0
without revealing actual GPA.
Employers verify academic credentials securely.
Verification steps:
- Check credential hash in the Ethereum anchor registry
- Ensure the credential is not revoked
- Verify the student's ZK proof
This allows trustless credential verification.
University encrypts the transcript and uploads it to IPFS.
Transcript metadata is stored using:
TranscriptContract.java
Stored fields:
- GPA
- Degree
- IPFS CID
- Document hash
The transcript hash is anchored using:
AnchorRegistry.sol
This enables public verification of credential issuance.
Students generate proofs such as:
GPA >= EmployerThreshold
without revealing GPA.
Employers verify:
- Smart contract anchor
- Zero-Knowledge Proof
This completes the trust verification loop.
zkbar-v-core
│
├── backend-api # Node.js backend
├── chaincode-java # Hyperledger Fabric chaincode
├── frontend-app # React + Vite frontend
├── smart-contracts-eth # Ethereum smart contracts
├── zkp-circuits # Circom ZK circuits
│
├── docker-compose.yml
├── install-fabric.sh
├── reset-network.sh
├── LOCAL_RUN_GUIDE.md
└── README.md
- Privacy-preserving academic credential verification
- Zero-Knowledge GPA proofs
- Hybrid blockchain architecture
- Decentralized document storage
- Public verification without exposing private data
- Credential revocation support
- Multi-party verification (University, Student, Employer)
To run the project locally follow the instructions in:
LOCAL_RUN_GUIDE.md
The guide includes:
- Fabric network setup
- Smart contract deployment
- Backend server setup
- Frontend application setup
- IPFS configuration
| Layer | Technology |
|---|---|
| Frontend | React, Vite |
| Backend | Node.js, Express |
| Permissioned Blockchain | Hyperledger Fabric |
| Public Blockchain | Ethereum |
| Smart Contracts | Solidity |
| ZKP | Circom, snarkjs |
| Storage | IPFS |