CertiChain: NFT-Based Academic Credentialing on Sandbox
Overview
CertiChain is a blockchain-based platform that enables universities to issue and verify academic credentials as NFTs, ensuring authenticity, security, and accessibility. Built on The Sandbox infrastructure, CertiChain addresses major challenges in academic credentialing—streamlining verification, reducing fraud, and promoting Web3 adoption among non-crypto users.
The live MVP is hosted at dcnweb.vercel.app, demonstrating core features for issuing and verifying NFT-based certificates.
Target Audience
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Universities & Academic Institutions : Seeking verifiable, tamper-proof digital credential solutions.
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Students & Alumni : In need of portable, secure academic certificates.
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Employers & Verifiers : Requiring fast, transparent, and trustworthy credential verification—without intermediaries.
Project Goals
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Fraud Prevention : Eliminate fake academic records with immutable, on-chain data.
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Operational Efficiency : Reduce administrative overhead with smart contracts and automated verification.
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Accessibility : Provide permanent access to credentials anytime, anywhere.
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Web3 Adoption : Onboard students, staff, and institutions into The Sandbox ecosystem via real-world use cases.
Key Features
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NFT Credential Standard : Lightweight ERC-721 token containing verifiable academic metadata.
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University Dashboard : Admin interface for authorized minting of NFT certificates.
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Student Wallet Access : MetaMask integration for easy claiming and management of credentials.
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Public Verification Portal : Open-access tool for validating credential authenticity on-chain.
Budget: $16,100
| Category | Description | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Personnel | ||
| Lead Developer (smart contract updates, UI improvements, integration support, maintenance) | $5,200 | |
| Project Coordinator (multi-university outreach, onboarding, reporting, logistics management) | $2,200 | |
| Infrastructure | ||
| Hosting on Vercel + IPFS (12 months @ $150/month, scalability & uptime optimization) | $1,800 | |
| Development tools, testing environments, and analytics dashboards | $600 | |
| Pilot Program | ||
| University onboarding (600–800 students across 8–10 universities) | $2,000 | |
| Data collection & analytics setup (Google Forms + dashboard integrations + reporting system) | $600 | |
| Marketing | ||
| Blog posts, social media threads, video explainers, and graphics (Notion, Canva, X/Twitter campaigns) | $2,000 | |
| Community engagement and media outreach (collabs, AMAs, newsletters) | $800 | |
| Contingency | Minor unexpected expenses (gas fees, transaction costs, logistics) | $900 |
| Total | $16,100 |
Key Performance Indicators
| Metric | Target by End of Pilot |
|---|---|
| Partner Universities | 1–2 institutions onboarded |
| Student Credentials Issued | 10–15 NFT certificates |
| Credential Verifications | 15+ on-chain verifications |
| Wallet Adoption Rate | 70% of students claim via MetaMask |
| Web3 Education Events | 1–2 onboarding sessions |
| Community Engagement | 1 blog + 2 Twitter threads, 200+ views |
University Partnerships (Pilot-Stage)
Currently were engaging two Kenyan universities for the pilot and are soon to finalize the confirmation:
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Kabarak University (Pending confirmation)
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Zetech University (Pending confirmation)
We’re preparing a virtual onboarding session targeting 10–15 students from underrepresented backgrounds. The goal is to secure at least one confirmed university partner by Q3 2025, with formal credential issuance to follow.
Value to The Sandbox DAO
1. Non-Gaming Use Case for LAND & Identity
CertiChain introduces utility-driven, real-world applications of NFTs. In future phases, a Credential Gallery on Sandbox LAND will showcase verified academic achievements and foster educational hubs in the metaverse.
2. DAO Reach Beyond Crypto-Native Users
Universities and employers are non-traditional crypto users. CertiChain bridges that gap by introducing wallets, NFTs, and on-chain verification through familiar use cases—positioning The Sandbox as a gateway to broader Web3 participation.
3. Trust Infrastructure for Education
By anchoring credential issuance and verification to Sandbox infrastructure, CertiChain repositions The Sandbox as a trust layer in global education—beyond entertainment and gaming.
Sustainability Plan
CertiChain is built with long-term impact and scalability in mind. Here’s how we plan to grow beyond the pilot:
Growth Strategy:
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Expand University Partnerships : Scale from 1–2 institutions to 3+ through case studies and referrals.
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Credential Gallery on LAND : Create interactive credential displays on Sandbox LAND—serving as a public record and academic museum.
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Subscription Model (Phase 2) : Offer optional SaaS features for universities (e.g., advanced analytics, reporting, verified badges).
