Our Product

Block.co

Enable the issuance of digital certificates anchored to the Blockchain assuring immutability, and security.

Product

Block.co’s solution is based on open standards.

Block.co offers a number of product options to suit the clients’ particular needs. These range from the basic module to more premium ones, unlocking additional enterprise capabilities.

Block.co also offers professional assistance to clients that require initial configuration of templates as well as broader integration with their existing systems.

The technology is offered as a Software as a Service (SaaS), on a Multi-tenant platform, with a customizable User Interface (UI)

How it Works

ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES

Creating the certificates

Requires a CSV file with all the information.

A PDF document populated with the appropriate fields.

Annotate Certificate with Metadata

Adaptive definition of metadata.

Inject machine readable metadata to the PDF.

Create a Merkle Tree data structure

Computation of digital fingerprints for each certificate.

Certificates are sealed with a unique fingerprint.

Publishing on the blockchain

A transaction is triggered and sent to a node for confirmation.

Once confirmed, it is safely stored on the blockchain.

Dissemination to the users

Enable easy dissemination processes.

Certificates are ready to be independently verified by anyone.

VALIDATION OF CERTIFICATES

The authenticity of a certificate can be validated by uploading the PDF of the certificate onto a webapp developed by Block.co. If the PDF file does not successfully validate then a warning message is generated indicating that some of the metadata has been tampered. The Validation process flow involves 4 steps:

Extracting Blockchain Proof Metadata

The blockchain proof metadata is extracted and removed from the
PDF.

Calculating the hash of the remaining PDF certificate

We hash the PDF credential, which as mentioned above, is the one
that was issued on the blockchain. If the certificate was modified in
any way the hash will differ from the one issued.

Identifying Merkle root

Extracted metadata are used to access data from a
Blockchain transaction that are used to identify the Merkle root.

Hash Comparison from the Merkle tree proof

The digital fingerprint of a certificate
in conjunction with the Merkle proof are used for validation purposes.

REVOCATION OF CERTIFICATES

Encoding data on a Meta-protocol

Data relating to the revocation operation are encoded on a
Meta-protocol that points to a previous transaction

Validator rejects transaction

A set of validator rules are consulted before confirming
the validity of a certificate.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can we have custom branding on our accounts and issued records?Chariton Hadjicostis2019-02-21T13:57:37+00:00

Can we have custom branding on our accounts and issued records?

Indeed. The product allows you to brand your records however you see fit.

Will our IT department have to carry out any configuration work that would be necessary?Chariton Hadjicostis2019-02-21T08:12:32+00:00

Will our IT department have to carry out any configuration work that would be necessary?

All configuration work will be carried out by us, but we will, however, require a contact person in your IT department to work with during the setup/configuration process and also for any account maintenance work.

Do we need people with programming skills in order to use Block.co?Chariton Hadjicostis2019-02-21T08:00:40+00:00

Do we need people with programming skills in order to use Block.co?

No. Our issuing system is a web-based application and can be used by anyone with basic administrative skills.

Does our organization have to set up a blockchain node or manage a crypto currency?Chariton Hadjicostis2019-02-21T08:00:10+00:00

Does our organization have to set up a blockchain node or manage a crypto currency?

No. Block.co makes it easy to anchor records on a blockchain and manages the transaction fees for you behind the scenes.

What happens to issued certificates if for whatever reason our account is discontinued?Chariton Hadjicostis2019-02-21T07:59:35+00:00

What happens to issued certificates if for whatever reason our account is discontinued?

Any already issued certificate has no ongoing dependence on Block.co. These records are anchored on the blockchain that recipients own for a lifetime.

We would like to be further educated about the product before committing to its adoption. Do you provide any kind of training?wpadmin2019-02-21T07:53:49+00:00

We would like to be further educated about the product before committing to its adoption. Do you provide any kind of training?

Indeed, we do. We in fact consider this as a must for us to also get a better understanding of your company’s specific needs, requirements, and structure, so that we can deliver a product that best fits your profile.

What types of institutions benefit most from licensing of your product?wpadmin2019-02-21T07:55:03+00:00

What types of institutions benefit most from licensing of your product?

Any institution, may it be a government, a local authority, any corporation or academic institution that issues certificates that wish to have an enhanced level of security and immutability.

Is there a limit as to the number of certificates that can be issued per batch?wpadmin2019-02-21T07:56:06+00:00

Is there a limit as to the number of certificates that can be issued per batch?

The way we have designed our product where multiple certificates are hashed together, enables us to issue an unlimited number of documents per batch.

Can certificates anchored to the blockchain have an expiry date, as this may be necessary for a number of certifications?wpadmin2019-02-21T07:56:38+00:00

Can certificates anchored to the blockchain have an expiry date, as this may be necessary for a number of certifications?

Expiration dates can be set during the issuance phase as part of the embedded metadata. Therefore, when the validity period lapses, the verification process will indicate that the certificate has expired.

Can certificates be revoked in case of a mistake or a change in circumstances?wpadmin2019-02-21T07:57:12+00:00

Can certificates be revoked in case of a mistake or a change in circumstances?

Indeed. We have developed a methodology whereby certificates can be revoked in case there is a need for that.