A Review on Recent Advancements in Blockchain Technology for Secure Electronic Certificates
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Abstract
Blockchain technology is rapidly evolving, driving advancements in various sectors, most notably in securing academic credentials against forgery. Despite the critical need for tamperproof certificates, consensus remains limited regarding the most secure, cost-effective, and scalable issuance models. To address this gap, a systematic literature review was conducted, meticulously analyzing 24 practical blockchain-based credentialing models published between 2018 and 2024. The quantitative analysis revealed a significant platform dichotomy: 50% of the reviewed models utilize Ethereum, while 25% rely on Hyperledger Fabric. These architectural split highlights a fundamental critical trade-off between the desire for absolute decentralization and Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) and the necessity for high operational efficiency and low transaction costs. The review concludes that the primary methodological barrier to widespread institutional adoption is the critical absence of empirical quantitative performance data (such as throughput, latency, and actual operational costs) across the current literature. Consequently, the study advocates for future research to focus on developing Hybrid Architectures that can effectively reconcile the core principles of decentralized trust with the demanding efficiency requirements of large educational bodies.
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