We're excited to announce full W3C Verifiable Credentials (VC) support in Cryptar's protocol, expanding interoperability options for manufacturers implementing Digital Product Passport systems.
What's New
Our evidence files now support W3C Verifiable Credentials 2.0 format alongside our existing GS1 EPCIS integration. This means you can:
- Issue DPP data as W3C VCs with cryptographic proof
- Verify credentials using standard W3C verification libraries
- Integrate with decentralized identity systems
- Exchange credentials across organizational boundaries using open standards
Why W3C Verifiable Credentials?
The W3C VC standard is becoming the de facto format for digital credentials across industries. Supporting this standard ensures that Cryptar-sealed data can participate in broader digital trust ecosystems.
Key Benefits:
- Interoperability: Exchange verified data with any system that supports W3C VCs
- Selective disclosure: Share only relevant portions of DPP data with different stakeholders
- Revocation: Update or revoke credentials if data needs correction
- Standards compliance: Align with emerging EU Digital Identity Wallet requirements
Technical Implementation
W3C VCs are generated automatically when you seal data through our API. No code changes required—just specify the VC format in your sealing request:
{
"format": "w3c-vc-2.0",
"subject": "urn:product:12345",
"claims": {
"recycledContent": 75,
"carbonFootprint": 12.4
}
}
Signature Suites
We support multiple cryptographic signature suites:
- Ed25519Signature2020: High-performance elliptic curve signatures
- RsaSignature2018: Traditional RSA for compatibility
- EcdsaSecp256k1Signature2019: For blockchain-adjacent applications
GS1 Integration
For manufacturers already using GS1 standards, W3C VCs complement rather than replace EPCIS events. A typical integration pattern:
- Capture supply chain events in EPCIS format
- Seal critical events (aggregation, transformation) as W3C VCs
- Reference the VC from EPCIS metadata
- Provide both formats to downstream partners based on their capabilities
EU Digital Identity Wallet Readiness
As the EU rolls out digital identity wallets under eIDAS 2.0, product credentials stored as W3C VCs can integrate with these wallets. This enables scenarios like:
- Consumers storing product warranties in their personal wallet
- Presenting proof of authentic purchase during returns
- Accessing repair manuals tied to specific product instances
Migration Path
Existing Cryptar customers don't need to migrate. Your current evidence files continue working identically. W3C VC support is an additive feature—use it when ecosystem partners require this format.
Getting Started
W3C VC generation is available now in our API (v2.1 and higher). Documentation and code examples are in the developer portal. For technical questions, our solutions engineering team is available at support@cryptar.de.
What's Next
We're continuing to expand interoperability support. Upcoming releases will include:
- ISO/IEC 18013-5 mDL integration (for product identification)
- OAuth 2.0 Protected Resource endpoints (for authenticated credential retrieval)
- OpenID Connect for Verifiable Presentations
Our roadmap is driven by customer needs and evolving standards. If you have specific interoperability requirements, we'd love to hear from you.