Are your Verifiable Credentials the real thing? Not every digital credential that says it’s “verifiable” is what you think it is. A new report from Indicio explains how to tell.
By Helen Garneau
A new report from Indicio’s VP of Governance, Trevor Butterworth, breaks down one of the most important questions in digital identity today: What makes a credential truly verifiable?
This report is written for decision-makers and technical teams alike. Whether you work in cybersecurity, identity verification, product development, or if you’re building or relying on digital credentials, this is the simple document providing the distinction you need. This is especially relevant if your organization handles biometric data, works with EU citizens, or is looking for ways to prevent fraud from AI-generated deepfakes.
At the heart of it, if a credential needs to check in with a server or call back to the issuer every time it’s used, then it’s not a true Verifiable Credential. Sure it’s digital, and it may even be marketed as “decentralized,” but at the end of the day, it’s not actually a Verifiable Credential, just a digital permission slip. Because if the issuer goes offline, so does the credential. No verification. No efficiency.
In this report, Trevor explains how real Verifiable Credentials are different. They allow anyone to confirm who issued the credential and whether the data has been altered—without needing to contact the original source. That’s because the data is sealed inside the credential using advanced, tamper-proof cryptography. It’s verifiable on its own, instantly and securely.
The report walks through why this matters, especially for organizations that deal with sensitive data or biometrics. Most digital credentials today rely on API calls to backend databases. That means storing personal data which comes with major security, privacy, and compliance risks.
With Verifiable Credentials, you don’t need to store anything in a database. You can verify biometric identity without ever holding on to biometric data. This is essential for staying compliant with privacy regulations, particularly in the EU.
Trevor also addresses another common point of confusion: decentralization.
Many digital identity solutions use the term without truly delivering on it. Decentralization does not mean data, even encrypted data, is forced to run through a third-party system in order for the data to be verified. Real decentralization happens when Verifiable Credentials, which can be controlled by people, organizations, devices, even AI agents, are used to authenticate and exchange data directly, without intermediaries.
A decentralized approach to digital identity that uses real Verifiable Credentials equates to faster processes, lower costs, and fewer risks. It also means trust can move securely across systems, industries, and borders, without complex integrations or third-party brokers.
The report ends with a five-point checklist to help you quickly tell the difference between real Verifiable Credentials and the ones that only use the label. You’ll also learn how Indicio’s Proven solution supports the full stack of credential formats, protocols, and real-world deployment needs.
Because once you’ve seen the real thing, you’ll understand why anything less isn’t good enough.
Download the report or schedule a free workshop to see how Verifiable Credentials can help you reduce risk, improve efficiency, and stay in control of your data.
