Skip to content

W3C VCDM v2.0 - Verifiable Credentials Data Model, W3C Recommendation, 15 May 2025  #115

Description

@IshaiO

Formal name

W3C VCDM v2.0 - Verifiable Credentials Data Model, W3C Recommendation, 15 May 2025, Manu Sporny et al

Overview

A verifiable credential is a specific way to express a set of claims made by an issuer, such as a driver's license or an education certificate. This specification describes the extensible data model for verifiable credentials, how they can be secured from tampering, and a three-party ecosystem for the exchange of these credentials that is composed of issuers, holders and verifiers.

This document also covers a variety of security, privacy, internationalization, and accessibility considerations for ecosystems that use the technologies described in this specification.

Note

Verifiable Credentials Overview

VCDM is part of a larger family of specifications, which are meant to work together. An overview of the family of specification is available here

Note

W3C Recommendations have been formally reviewed by W3C Members, by software developers, and by W3C groups and interested parties. W3C recommends the wide deployment of a Recommendation as a standard for the Web. These documents MAY be cited as W3C standards.

Work Plan

Previous Version

  • W3C VCDM v1.1 - Verifiable Credentials Data Model specification, Manu Sporny et al: Published as a W3C Recommendation.
  • v1.1 is referenced in the following CIR (EU):

Current Version

  • W3C VCDM v2.0 - Verifiable Credentials Data Model specification, Manu Sporny et al: Published as a W3C Recommendation.
  • v2.0 is not referenced in any CIR (EU).

Note

Both v1.1 and v1.12 are still active and valid. v1.1 is relevant mainly for existing implementation use. v2.0 represents the updated version, for new implementations, and it is fully backwards compatible to v1.1, as long as the new features in v2.0 are not used.

EC Assessment Status

  • The EC is discussing the assessment of W3C VCDM v2.0 with W3C.

Forthcoming Version

  • W3C VCDM v2.1 - Verifiable Credentials Data Model specification, Manu Sporny et al
  • Objectives: W3C plans to develop v2.1 of this TS as part of Verifiable Credentials Working Group Charter.
  • Planned publication date: 2027-04-01.

Updates

  • 2026-05-22: EC shared the assessment with W3C.
  • 2026-04-30: EC updated the estimated target date of the assessment to 2026-05-31.
  • 2026-04-06: EC updated the estimated target date of the assessment to 2026-04-30.
  • 2025-02-09: EC updated the estimated target date of the assessment to 2026-03-31.
  • 2025-11-18: The EC was informed by W3C that the TS is stable, and no updates are foreseen at this stage.
  • 2025-05-15: W3C published W3C VCDM v2.0.

Alerts

There are no open alerts.

References

Metadata

Metadata

Assignees

No one assigned

    Labels

    Art 5a(23) ICFIntegrity & Core functionalities of EUDI WalletsArt 5a(23) P&IProtocols & Interfaces to be supported by the EUDI FrameworkArt 5a(23) PID/EAAPID & EAA issued to EUDI WalletsCIR (EU) 2024/2977PID and EAA - https://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2024/2977/ojCIR (EU) 2024/2979Integrity and core functionalities - https://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2024/2979/ojCat: Attestation & PID ProvidersFunctional requirements for issuers covering ID verification, issuance, formats, and revocation.Cat: Protocols & InteroperabilityFunctional requirements defining common standards ensuring seamless cross-border interoperability.Cat: Relying PartiesFunctional requirements for relying parties on registration, auth, data requests, and handling.Cat: Wallet ProvidersFunctional requirements on core functions, security, UI, and lifecycle, managed by EUDIW Providers.Domain: WalletCovers STSs specific to ARF and wallet operations such as credential formats, protocols, and APIsFn: IssuanceFunctional: Issuance of PID and attestationsFn: PresentationFunctional: Presentation of attestation and attributes to a Relying PartyyFnRAn STS that specifies Functional RequirementsRegulationStandards referenced or mandated in the Implementing Acts (IA/CIR); binding for implementation.sts: readyThe standard has a stable version published

    Type

    No type

    Projects

    Status
    🏗 In progress

    Relationships

    None yet

    Development

    No branches or pull requests

    Issue actions