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Ecosystem Overview

Holder

A Holder is an individual or entity in possession of one or more Verifiable Credentials (VCs) and has the capability to generate Verifiable Presentations (VPs) from these credentials. Examples of holders include students holding degree certificates, employees with experience certificates, or individuals with identity cards.

Issuer

An Issuer is an entity that asserts claims or credentials about one or more subjects, creates VCs based on these claims, and transmits the VCs to holders. Common examples of issuers are educational institutions, government agencies, and certification bodies.

Subject

A Subject is the entity about which claims are made in a VC. This can include humans, animals, or any entity that requires verification or assertion. Typically, the holder of a VC is referred to as the subject. However, in some cases, the actual subject may not be eligible to hold a credential, leading to the involvement of a proxy or guardian.

Verifier

A Verifier is an entity responsible for receiving one or more VCs from a holder as proof of something, optionally encapsulated within a VP, for processing and verification. Verifiers can include corporations, employers, government entities, security personnel, and certain websites.

TrustTriangle

Verifiable data registry

A Verifiable Data Registry is a system designed to facilitate the creation and verification of various data elements, including identifiers, keys, and other data such as VC schemas and revocation registries. These registries are essential for the proper functioning of VCs. Examples of verifiable data registries include trusted and decentralized databases, government ID databases, and distributed ledgers. Different types of verifiable data registries may be used within an ecosystem.

Benefits of digital VCs and VPs

The digital nature of VCs and VPs allows for several advantages:

  • Ease of Transmission: VCs and VPs can be quickly and easily transmitted over the internet, making them more convenient than their physical counterparts for establishing trust over long distances.

  • Data Curation: Holders of VCs have the ability to curate data from VCs, generate VPs, and share these presentations with requesting verifiers to demonstrate possession of VCs with specific characteristics.

As the use of Verifiable Credentials continues to grow, these terms become increasingly important in understanding the evolving landscape of digital identity, trust, and data sharing.