A SYNOPSIS ON

Blockchain-Based Certificate Verification System

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award

of the degree of

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY
IN
COMPUTER SCIENCE & ENGINEERING

Submitted by:
Shivansh Agarwal 2019107
Tribhuwan Singh Kanyal 2019187
Rakshit Rana 2019035

Under the Guidance of

Mrs. Ruchira Rawat
Assistant Professor

Project Team ID: 17

Department of Computer Science and

Engineering
Graphic Era (Deemed to be University)
Dehradun, Uttarakhand
October-2024
 CANDIDATE’S DECLARATION
I/We hereby certify that the work which is being presented in the Synopsis entitled “ Hotel
Booking Website ” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of
Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering in the Department of
Computer Science and Engineering of the Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun
shall be carried out by the undersigned under the supervision of Mrs. Ruchira Rawat,
Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Graphic Era
(Deemed to be University), Dehradun.

Shivansh Agarwal 2019107

Tribhuwan Singh Kanyal 2019187
Rakshit Rana 2019035

The above mentioned students shall be working under the supervision of the undersigned on
the “Hotel Booking Website”

Supervisor Head of the Department

Internal Evaluation (By DPRC Committee)

Status of the Synopsis: Accepted / Rejected

Any Comments:

Name of the Committee Members: Signature with Date

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2.
 Table of Contents

Chapter No. Description Page No.

Chapter 1 Introduction and Problem Statement 1-2
Chapter 2 Background/ Literature Survey 3-6
Chapter 3 Objectives 7
Chapter 4 Hardware and Software Requirements 8-9
Chapter 5 Possible Approach/ Algorithms 10-12
References 13
Chapter 1

Introduction and Problem Statement

1.1 Introduction

In an increasingly digital world, the need for reliable and secure verification of documents,
such as academic certificates, professional licenses, and legal papers, is more critical than
ever. Traditional verification methods often involve lengthy processes, centralized databases,
and manual interventions, making them prone to inefficiencies and security vulnerabilities.
Document fraud has become a widespread issue, with counterfeit certificates undermining
trust in professional and educational qualifications.

Blockchain technology offers a new paradigm for solving these challenges by providing a
decentralized, secure, and transparent method for document verification. A blockchain-based
certificate verification system ensures the authenticity of documents, offering a tamper-proof
solution where records are cryptographically secured and permanently stored on the
blockchain. This technology eliminates the need for intermediaries and enhances trust,
making the verification process faster and more reliable.

1.2 Problem Statement

Current systems for verifying certificates and important documents are

flawed due to their reliance on centralized databases and manual
verification processes. These traditional methods are susceptible to data
breaches, fraud, and inefficiencies that result in delays, high costs, and
potential mismanagement. Fake certificates can be easily produced and
are difficult to detect, creating significant challenges for institutions and
organizations that need to ensure the legitimacy of documents.

The main problem is the lack of a secure, efficient, and scalable solution
for certificate verification that can prevent document tampering and
forgery. There is a need for a decentralized system that not only ensures
document integrity but also simplifies the verification process, allowing
issuers and verifiers to interact in real-time without relying on manual
checks or centralized authorities. Blockchain technology provides an
innovative way to address these issues by creating an immutable,
transparent ledger where certificates can be stored and verified securely.

Chapter 2

Background/ Literature Survey

Blockchain technology was first introduced in 2008 as the underlying mechanism behind
Bitcoin, created by an anonymous individual or group under the pseudonym Satoshi
Nakamoto. Since then, blockchain has evolved beyond cryptocurrency and has been adopted
for various applications requiring secure and transparent data management, such as supply
chain management, voting systems, and document verification.

In academic literature, blockchain’s immutability and decentralized nature have been

highlighted as key advantages for document verification. Research indicates that traditional
systems of certificate authentication often suffer from inefficiency, lack of security, and the
risk of fraud. Papers such as "Blockchain for Secure Document Verification" emphasize
blockchain’s role in enhancing trust in the certification process. By using cryptographic
hashing and smart contracts, the system ensures that documents cannot be altered after
issuance, and every interaction with the certificate can be traced back to its origin.

Moreover, the use of decentralized file storage systems such as IPFS (InterPlanetary File
System) has been explored to ensure that documents are securely stored in a distributed
manner. This decentralized storage prevents reliance on any single server and ensures the
availability of documents.

Projects like Blockcerts have also showcased how blockchain can be applied to issue and
verify educational certificates. These projects serve as foundational models, showing the
potential of blockchain in solving real-world problems related to document authentication.
However, challenges remain in terms of scalability and user adoption, which this project
seeks to address by utilizing technologies like Polygon, MetaMask, and smart contracts for
a more practical and user-friendly system.

Chapter 3

Objectives
The primary objectives of the Blockchain-Based Certificate Verification System are as
follows:

1. Ensure Authenticity: To develop a system that guarantees the authenticity of

certificates by recording them on a tamper-proof blockchain ledger.
2. Eliminate Fraud: To prevent the creation and usage of fake or altered certificates by
leveraging the immutability of blockchain technology.
3. Real-Time Verification: To allow verifiers, such as employers or educational
institutions, to authenticate certificates instantly and securely, without needing to
contact issuing authorities directly.
4. Decentralized Storage: To store certificates in a decentralized manner using IPFS,
ensuring security, availability, and avoiding reliance on a central server.
5. User-Friendly System: To create an accessible and easy-to-use interface for both
issuers and verifiers, integrating tools like MetaMask for blockchain interactions.
6. Scalability: To implement the system on a scalable blockchain like Polygon, enabling
efficient transaction processing and reduced costs for widespread adoption.

Chapter 4

 Hardware Requirements:
 Personal Computer or Server: Required to run the application, host the
development environment, and execute blockchain-related transactions.
 Minimum Configuration:
o Processor: Intel i5 or higher
o RAM: 8 GB or more
o Storage: 256 GB SSD or more
 MetaMask-Compatible Browser: Chrome, Firefox, or Brave for blockchain wallet
interactions.

 Software Requirements:
 Operating System: Windows 10/11, macOS, or Linux.
 Node.js: Used for backend development and managing dependencies through npm
(Node Package Manager).
 Ganache: Local blockchain environment for testing and deploying smart contracts
before moving to the live blockchain.
 NVM (Node Version Manager): For managing multiple versions of Node.js.
  MetaMask: A browser-based cryptocurrency wallet for managing blockchain
accounts and handling certificate-related transactions.
 Web3.js: JavaScript library for interacting with the blockchain and smart contracts
from the front end.
 IPFS (InterPlanetary File System): Decentralized file storage system for uploading
and storing certificates securely.
 Truffle Suite (Optional): A development framework for compiling, deploying, and
managing smart contracts.



Chapter 5

Possible Approach/ Algorithms

Approach:

The Blockchain-Based Certificate Verification System

follows a decentralized approach, using blockchain for

secure and tamper-proof storage of certificates. The

system is designed with the following steps:

1. Certificate Issuance:

a. The issuer creates a certificate, which is

cryptographically hashed. This hash is then

 stored on the blockchain via a smart

contract.

b. The actual certificate file is uploaded to IPFS,

which returns a unique hash (CID). The smart

contract stores this CID along with certificate

metadata on the blockchain.

2. Verification Process:

a. A verifier submits the certificate to be verified.

The system retrieves the certificate's hash

from the blockchain and compares it with the

hash of the submitted document.

b. If the hashes match, the certificate is deemed

authentic. Otherwise, the certificate is flagged

as tampered or fake.

3. Blockchain Transaction:

a. Each verification or certificate issuance is

recorded as a transaction on the Polygon

blockchain, ensuring transparency and

traceability.
 b. MetaMask is used to sign and confirm

transactions, allowing both the issuer and

verifier to interact with the blockchain

seamlessly.

Algorithms:

1. Cryptographic Hashing Algorithm:

The system uses a cryptographic hash function (e.g.,

SHA-256) to generate a unique hash for each

certificate. This ensures that even minor changes in the

document will produce a different hash, making

tampering detectable.

2. Smart Contract Logic:

a. The smart contract is responsible for storing

the certificate hash and CID, issuing

certificates, and verifying authenticity.

b. When a certificate is uploaded, the contract

records the hash on the blockchain. During

 verification, the contract compares the

document's hash with the one stored on-chain.

3. IPFS Integration Algorithm:

a. Certificates are uploaded to IPFS, and the

resulting CID is returned and stored on the

blockchain. This CID points to the certificate in

a decentralized file system.

References
 Nakamoto, S. (2008). "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System."
 Zheng, Z., Xie, S., Dai, H., Chen, X., & Wang, H. (2017). "An Overview of
Blockchain Technology: Architecture, Consensus, and Future Trends." IEEE
International Congress on Big Data.
 Blockcerts: An open standard for creating, issuing, and verifying blockchain-based
certificates.
 Wood, G. (2014). "Ethereum: A Secure Decentralized Generalized Transaction
Ledger."