Storing Credentials & Certificates on IPFS: A Practical Playbook

Why IPFS?

IPFS provides content-addressed, tamper-evident storage. Files are referenced by their hash (CID), so any change yields a different CID. That makes it ideal for certificates, badges, and proofs.

Recommended approach

1. Pinning: Use a pinning provider (e.g., Pinata, NFT.Storage) or run your own node to keep content available.
2. Gate public access: Store public assets on IPFS but keep private PII off-chain. If you must store sensitive data, encrypt before upload.
3. Store metadata: Keep a JSON schema with fields like recipient, issuer, issuedAt, and the certificate file CID.
4. Anchor on-chain (optional): Record the root CID or a hash on-chain to timestamp and verify provenance.

Verifying a certificate

• Fetch the metadata and file via a trusted HTTP gateway or your own node.
• Hash the file locally and compare the CID or digest.
• If you anchored on-chain, compare the stored hash to the file's hash.

Common pitfalls

• Assuming permanence without pinning: Pin or pay for persistence.
• Storing secrets: Encrypt first; manage keys carefully.
• Broken gateways: Use multiple gateways or run your own.

Takeaway

Combine IPFS for integrity + optional on-chain anchoring for timestamped proofs. Users get verifiable docs without sacrificing privacy.