Blockchain Technology for Academic Credential Verification Preventing Transcript Fraud in the USA
Currently, the most significant threat to the validity of academic credentials in the United States is the advanced forgery of transcripts along with diploma mills. This research study addresses the potential of blockchain technology as a decentralized means to protect academic credentials. By integrating recent academic research and technical frameworks, this study analyzes the shift from centralized databases to immutable, distributed ledgers. The integration of various perspectives, including advanced zero-knowledge proof architectures as well as legal frameworks for transnational data circulation, is a major innovation of this study. Using a systematic literature review and a case study approach, the research indicates that though blockchain's potential to enhance security and automate processes through smart contracts is indeed great, a number of legal, compliance, and technical barriers have to be removed for it to be a viable option. This study proposes that the combination of artificial intelligence (AI), along with blockchain technology, provides the most secure option for U.S. higher education institutions.