What is the revocation of a digital credential?

Revoking a credential means officially declaring that a certificate, diploma, badge, or record is no longer valid. This may happen for several reasons:

  • Incorrect data at issuance.
  • The holder no longer meets the requirements.
  • Fraud, plagiarism, or impersonation was detected.
  • The credential had a temporary validity and expired.

While revoking a printed diploma is almost impossible, in the digital environment and especially with blockchain and NFTs  there are clear, verifiable, and traceable mechanisms to do so.

How does revocation work in blockchain and NFTs?

One of the most common questions is: How can something on the blockchain be revoked if it’s immutable?

In POK, the issuance of digital credentials is designed to address this point:

  • Sensitive data is not stored on the blockchain, only a cryptographic hash that works as a digital fingerprint.
  • The blockchain preserves the original issuance record, but POK updates the validity status in real time.
  • If desired, the institution can record revocations in a smart contract, strengthening public auditability.

This means that information remains secure and immutable, while validity is dynamic and managed with transparency.

Step-by-step revocation process in POK

Issuing institutions have an admin panel from which they can revoke credentials easily and securely:

  1. The issuer logs into their institutional POK account.
  2. Locates the credential (by name, email, cohort, or ID).
  3. Selects the option “Revoke” or “Invalidate.”
  4. Confirms the action and, if desired, adds a reason.
  5. The update is immediate: the credential appears as invalid on the user profile and on the public verification URL.

What does a verifier see when checking a revoked credential?

POK provides maximum transparency for credential verification:

  • Highlighted message: “This credential has been revoked by the issuer.”
  • Visual differentiation (colors, strike-through, alert icons).
  • Additional information about the reason (if the institution chooses to display it).

This ensures that employers, recruiters, or universities avoid validating certificates that are no longer valid.

Common cases of revocation

  • Administrative errors: misspelled names, incorrect dates, etc.
  • Academic fraud: plagiarism or impersonation.
  • Changes in requirements: updated graduation conditions.
  • Temporary credentials: expired licenses or certifications.

Security and traceability guaranteed

Revocation in POK ensures a transparent and reliable history:

  • Issuance, revocation, and responsible party records are preserved.
  • If the credential was issued as an NFT, the blockchain keeps the original issuance.
  • Validity is managed in real time and, optionally, in external smart contracts.

Conclusion: Revocation builds trust too

Issuing digital credentials is a key step toward educational and professional innovation. But the ability to revoke them transparently and auditable is what truly strengthens trust.

With POK, institutions have a robust system that combines blockchain, security, control, and traceability to ensure their credentials are always trustworthy.

👉 Want to see the revocation system in action?
Request a personalized demo with our team and discover how POK can strengthen the reliability of your digital credentials.

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