Credential Layer

Verifiable Identity, Rights, and Entitlements Across People, Machines, Institutions, and Time

2.4.1 The Role of Credentials in NSF

Credentials are the primary interface between governance logic and actionable rights in NSF. They represent:

• Licenses

• Permissions

• Certifications

• Delegations

• Evidence of compliance

• DAO roles

• Simulation authorship

• Risk domain authority

But unlike traditional credentials (PDFs, badges, or government IDs), NSF credentials are:

• Verifiable using cryptographic proofs

• Bound to clause execution logic

• Issued and revoked by governance-controlled actors

• Portable across institutions, jurisdictions, and systems

The Credential Layer ensures every entitlement in the system is traceable, permissioned, revocable, and governed.

---

2.4.2 W3C Verifiable Credentials (VCs) as Canonical Format

NSF adopts and extends the W3C VC standard, ensuring compatibility with:

• Global identity networks

• Decentralized identity frameworks (DIDComm, Sovrin, EBSI, etc.)

• Credential wallets and verifier APIs

• ZK-compatible credential presentations

Every credential in NSF includes:

Field	Purpose
Issuer DID	Identity of credential authority
Subject DID	Holder (person, machine, institution)
Context	Domain schema reference
Credential Type	E.g., FlightLicenseVC, WaterSafetyComplianceVC, DisasterZoneOperatorVC
Valid From / To	Enforced by clause or credential schema
Proof	Signature + optional ZK bundle
Clause Link	The CAC or Smart Clause that triggered issuance
Revocation Link	Revocable via governance-signed attestation

---

2.4.3 Credential Lifecycle in NSF

1. Trigger: A clause executes (e.g., training completed, inspection passed)

2. CAC Generated: Clause-Attested Compute record is signed

3. Credential Issued: By authority with role-gated permissions

4. Credential Used: By agent, system, or DAO

5. Revocation (if needed): Based on another clause or governance decision

6. Audit Logged: All actions signed, time-stamped, and stored in credential registry

This ensures credentials are not claimed—they are earned, governed, and provable.

---

2.4.4 DID Anchors and Identity Governance

NSF uses Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) for all subjects:

• Individuals

• Autonomous agents

• Institutions

• DAO nodes

• Data providers

• Simulations

• Jurisdictions

Each DID:

• Has one or more associated credentials

• Is linked to governance logs and credential registries

• Can be rotated, retired, or delegated per clause or DAO policy

• May support on-chain, off-chain, or hybrid resolution for multi-network interoperability

DID documents in NSF include:

• Service endpoints

• Credential index

• Trust anchor paths

• Public keys and rotation logic

• Governance DAO affiliation

---

2.4.5 Credential Types and Domains

NSF includes modular credential classes for:

Category	Examples
Legal Authority	SovereignRegulatorVC, MunicipalInspectorVC
Licensing	MedicLicenseVC, PilotCredentialVC, HazmatVC
Simulation Role	ClimateSimAuthorVC, RiskValidationPeerVC
DAO Governance	ClauseProposerVC, MultisigDelegateVC
Execution Role	TEEValidatorVC, CredentialIssuerVC
Compliance	FoodSafetyComplianceVC, ExportReadyVC, EmissionPassVC
Revocation Agent	CredentialRevokerVC, JurisdictionDisputerVC

Every type is versioned, governed by schema clauses, and tracked in the Global Credential Registry.

---

2.4.6 Credential Revocation and Suspension

Credential revocation is not discretionary—it must follow a revocation clause or governance trigger.

Revocation includes:

• Signed attestation

• Reference to clause or simulation violation

• Optional ZK inclusion for privacy

• Public or private propagation depending on domain

• Anchoring in the Revocation Registry

Suspended credentials cannot be used for clause execution, DAO voting, or role enforcement until revalidated.

---

2.4.7 Privacy and ZK Credential Presentations

In sensitive domains (e.g., health, finance, refugee protection), NSF supports:

• Selective disclosure: Proving attributes without exposing full credential

• ZK credential proofs: Showing “I hold a valid AidWorkerCredentialVC for Country X” without revealing name, institution, or ID

• Pseudonymous governance participation: Role-based DAO voting with verifiable ZK attestations

These are governed by clause-defined privacy and revocation logic, ensuring privacy and accountability co-exist.

---

2.4.8 Interoperability and Wallet Integration

Credentials are compatible with:

• W3C DID and VC standards

• Mobile-first and humanitarian credential wallets

• Sovereign identity stacks (e.g., Aadhaar+, EBSI, MOSIP, etc.)

• OpenID Connect and OAuth2-compatible ID layers

Each NSF deployment can define:

• Accepted credential issuers

• Resolution registries

• Expiry conditions

• Credential translation or cross-certification policies

---

2.4.9 Audit Trails and Credential Provenance

All credential issuance and usage actions are:

• Logged in the Credential Audit Layer

• Linked to specific Smart Clause executions (via CAC ID)

• Stored as part of the subject’s governance trace

• Queryable under jurisdictional access policies

• Forkable for reissuance under system transitions

Credentials in NSF are not just artifacts—they are institutional memory, verified in real time, with full provenance.

---

2.4.10 The Credential Layer as Institutional Trust Fabric

NSF’s Credential Layer ensures:

• No role is assumed without clause-bound logic

• No credential is valid without execution context

• No permission is permanent or non-revocable

• All identities—human or machine—are governed transparently

• Credential issuance, usage, and revocation are publicly attestable

It is the interface between governance and agency, between machine enforcement and human rights, and between trust and verifiability.

Without the Credential Layer, NSF would have no actors. With it, every actor is verifiably governed, transparently accountable, and cryptographically empowered.