ScholaChain

Overview

ScholaChain is a decentralized certificate and diploma verification platform that uses Ethereum blockchain technology to provide tamper-proof, transparent, and instant verification of academic and professional certificates.

Problem Solved

• 🔍 Certificate Fraud Prevention: Eliminates fake certificates through blockchain immutability
• ⚡ Instant Verification: Reduces verification time from days to seconds
• 🔒 Data Integrity: Ensures certificates cannot be altered after issuance
• 🌐 Global Accessibility: Provides decentralized verification without central authority

✨ Key Features

For Educational Institutions

• 🏛️ Role-based Access Control: Ministry of Education as SUPER_ADMIN (for issuer roles assignment)
• 📜 Certificate Issuance: Authorized institutions can issue tamper-proof certificates
• 🔄 Revocation Management: Ability to revoke compromised certificates
• 📊 Transparent Audit Trail: Complete history of all certificate operations

For Certificate Holders

• 🔍 Instant Verification: Verify certificate authenticity in seconds
• 📱 Easy Sharing: Share verifiable certificates with employers/universities
• 💼 Permanent Storage: Certificates stored permanently on blockchain and IPFS

For Verifiers

• 🎯 Dual Verification: Certificate ID + Document Hash verification
• 🔗 Direct Blockchain Proof: Link to exact transaction on Etherscan
• 📄 Document Integrity: SHA256 hash comparison for tamper detection
• 🌐 No Registration Required: Public verification without accounts

Quick start

The project is configured for deployment on the local blockchain node network with Hardhat and on the Sepolia test blockchain network. In this tutorial, we provide instructions for a real-world deployment on the Sepolia Ethereum test network with transaction recording on Etherscan.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

• Docker (installed and running)
• MetaMask browser extension
• Git
• Testnet ETH (for Sepolia deployment). You can get some on Alchemy Faucet or Google Faucet

1. Clone & Setup

The first things you need to do are cloning this repository and setting up the project environment files

git clone https://github.com/Mongetro/scholachain.git

Go to the project root directory:

cd scholachain

2. Blockchain (.env) configuration

Create a .env file in the blockchain-smart-contracts directory :

cp ./blockchain-smart-contracts/.env.example ./blockchain-smart-contracts/.env

Once you have created the .env file, configure all environment variables according to the instructions included in the file.

PS : ⚠️ NEVER commit real private keys in your .env to version control

3. Backend (.env) configuration

Always in the project root directory:

cp ./backend/.env.example ./backend/.env

Once you have created the .env file, configure all environment variables according to the instructions included in the file.

PS : ⚠️ NEVER commit real private keys in your .env to version control

4. Deployment of smart contracts and launch of the decentralized application (backend + frontend) using the Sepolia network

In the project root directory:

• Launch all services:

make sepolia

Wait until all services are up and running. The decentralized application (dApp) will usually be available at http://localhost:5173/.

Remember that in the browser wallet, you must have the account whose private key you added to scholachain/blockchain-smart-contracts/.env. This account is registered as the Ministry of Education (SUPER_ADMIN) during deployment. You should have other accounts (with Sepolia Testnet ETH) which will be considered certificate issuing institutions.

• Stop all services:

Once you have launched the decentralized application and tested its features, you can stop all services with the following command :

make stop

User Guide

1. Connect Wallet

• Open the application in your browser at http://localhost:5173/
• Connect your wallet (MetaMask)
• Ensure you're on the correct network (Sepolia ...)

2. Institution Management

• Make sure you log in with the correct account (Ministry of Education (SUPER_ADMIN))
• Navigate to "Admin"
• Clic the Add Institution butont and fill the Register New Institution form
• Send data and confirm the blockchain transaction via your wallet (metamask)

3. Issue Certificate

• Make sure you log in with the correct account (an account registered as an issuer by the SUPER_ADMIN)
• Navigate to "Issue Certificate"
• Fill in details and upload the PDF certificate/diploma file
• Send data and confirm the blockchain transaction via your wallet (metamask)

4. Verify Certificate/Diploma

• Navigate to " Verify Certificate"
• Enter the certificate ID and upload the certificate PDF file to verify
• Verify the Certificate via Verify Certificate button

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Metamask Connection Issues

• Ensure you're on the correct network
• Reset account and clear cache in MetaMask (Settings > Advanced > Clear activity tab data)

Transaction Failures

• Check you have sufficient gas funds (Sepoli ETH) in the connected account
• Verify that all services are running and contracts are correctly deployed

ScholaChain : Built with ❤️ for more transparency and authenticity of diplomas and certificates! 🎉