On-block certs: blockchain-based lightweight digital certificates

Resumo

Identity management applications need some kind of tamper resistance, characteristic which we can borrow from a blockchain. This makes it possible to create, use and check certificates that are light and tightly coupled with a blockchain. To better understand this concept, we developed a proofof-concept for a system that creates and retrieves the new lightweight digital certificates from the blockchain. The system can simplify both the certificate management for a Certification Authority and the checking of certificate revocation status by users. Using it, we can sign and verify digital signatures on documents, interfacing with the blockchain to retrieve a given certificate and check for its validity.