Sairam Jalakam Devarajulu, a Blockchain Technology Expert, writes a special column for DM about the role of Blockchain technology in academic arena.
Academic fraud is a growing problem across the globe. From falsified transcripts to fake degree certificates, the lack of a unified, verifiable system makes it easy for people to manipulate their educational records. This not only damages the credibility of institutions but also puts employers, governments, and students at risk. But now, an emerging technology offers a practical, scalable solution: blockchain.
Blockchain—widely known for powering cryptocurrencies—has much broader applications. At its core, it’s a secure, decentralized, and tamper-proof ledger. When applied to academic records, blockchain can change the way credentials are issued, verified, and shared—bringing transparency and trust to a system that desperately needs both.
Think of blockchain like a secure, global notebook. Once a university writes your name in it, no one can erase or change it, not even the university itself.
Here’s how it works. Instead of storing academic certificates on a centralized server controlled by one institution, blockchain allows universities to publish them to a distributed ledger. Once a degree is recorded, it becomes time-stamped and cryptographically sealed. It can’t be edited, forged, or deleted. Anyone—employers, other schools, licensing boards—can verify the credential’s authenticity with a quick scan or search, without having to contact the issuing institution.
For students, this means they no longer have to carry around physical certificates or wait weeks for transcripts. Their academic record is permanently stored and instantly shareable, anywhere in the world. For universities, it reduces administrative costs, streamlines verification processes, and reinforces their reputation. And for employers, it cuts down the time and risk involved in background checks.
Several forward-thinking institutions have already begun using blockchain for academic records. The MIT Media Lab uses the Blockcerts platform to issue digital diplomas, which graduates can share and verify instantly. In India, the Maharashtra State Board partnered with LegitDoc to record over a million student credentials on the blockchain. Meanwhile, the University of Nicosia in Cyprus became one of the first to issue blockchain degrees, setting a precedent for Europe.
As the World Economic Forum put it, “Blockchain is to education credentials what HTTPS was to the internet—trust built into the system.”
But it’s not just about preventing fraud. Blockchain also empowers students to own and control their own educational data. In a future where learning is lifelong and often spans multiple institutions, online courses, and informal training programs, blockchain creates a unified and portable record of achievement.
Of course, like any digital system, blockchain-based credentialing needs thoughtful design. Data privacy, regulatory alignment, and digital literacy are all critical. But the foundation is solid. With the right infrastructure, countries, and institutions can finally take academic integrity into the digital age—permanently and globally.
Universities and education boards should explore blockchain not just as a tech upgrade, but as a trust upgrade. Start small: digitize diplomas, pilot credential verification, and join existing blockchain credentialing networks. The infrastructure exists but what’s needed now is leadership.
As someone working in blockchain and education tech, I’ve seen firsthand how much time, trust, and money is lost verifying academic records. This technology doesn’t just solve that… it puts power back in students’ hands.
In a world increasingly defined by what we know and how we prove it, fake degrees are more than a nuisance.. they’re a threat. Blockchain doesn’t just block that threat; it rebuilds trust in the entire academic system.