Key Concepts and Technologies

The TrustD Proof of Concept (POC) introduces several foundational concepts and technologies crucial for understanding how the platform operates. This document elaborates on these concepts and their significance within the TrustD ecosystem.

Verifiable Credentials (VC)

Verifiable Credentials (VCs) are digital equivalents of traditional paper-based credentials, like a driver's license or university diploma, but with enhanced security, privacy, and verifiability features. They play a pivotal role in the TrustD POC project, leveraging blockchain technology to transform how identities and credentials are verified within the Transport and Logistics industry.

Importance in the Digital Verification Process

VCs are crucial in establishing a trust framework that is independent of centralized verification authorities. This trust is achieved through cryptographic proofs that confirm the integrity and origin of the credential without disclosing more information than necessary. This property is particularly important in the Transport and Logistics industry, where businesses often need to verify credentials such as vehicle insurance certificates, driver qualifications, and company certifications rapidly and securely.

Standards and Protocols

The TrustD POC project adheres to established standards and protocols for the creation, issuance, and verification of VCs to ensure interoperability, security, and privacy:

W3C Verifiable Credentials Data Model

TrustD utilizes the W3C Verifiable Credentials Data Model, which provides a standardized method to express credentials on the Web in a way that is cryptographically secure, privacy-respecting, and machine-verifiable. This standard defines a generic model to create VCs that can be shared across different platforms without requiring a centralized issuer or verifier.

Decentralized Identifiers (DID)

DIDs are a new type of identifier for verifiable, "self-sovereign" digital identity. DIDs are fully under the control of the DID subject, independent from any centralized registry, identity provider, or certificate authority. In the context of TrustD, DIDs are used to securely associate issuers, holders, and verifiers with their digital identities, enabling a more direct and secure form of identity verification.

Dock.io Blockchain

The Dock.io blockchain plays a critical role in the anchoring of VCs. By recording a hash of the VC on a decentralized ledger, TrustD ensures that each credential can be verified as untampered and authentic. This process leverages the immutable nature of blockchain technology to provide a time-stamped record of credential issuance and revocation, enhancing the overall trust in the digital verification process.

Implementation on the TrustD Platform

On the TrustD platform, the issuance and verification of VCs follow a streamlined process:

  1. Issuance: An issuer, after becoming 'Trustd Verified', creates a VC for a holder, embedding the necessary claims and signing it cryptographically.
  2. Acceptance: The holder accepts the VC, storing it securely in their digital wallet.
  3. Verification: A verifier requests proof of a specific claim within the VC. The holder presents a verification derived from the VC, which the verifier checks against the public key recorded on the blockchain.

This end-to-end process not only simplifies the verification of credentials but also significantly enhances security and privacy, mitigating the risk of fraud and unauthorized data disclosure.