🔐 Source-Verify-Chain

Verify source authenticity through blockchain-backed credential chains — because seeing shouldn't always be believing.

🚀 Overview

I built this over a caffeine-fueled weekend because I kept seeing screenshots and article excerpts go viral that were clearly doctored. Source-Verify-Chain is a browser extension that lets you cryptographically verify the chain of custody for online content — who published it, when, and whether it's been tampered with. It's built on a lightweight blockchain to flag suspicious edits, dead links to original sources, and impersonation attempts before you share.

📦 Installation

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/source-verify-chain.git
cd source-verify-chain
npm install
npm run dev

Then load the /extension folder as an unpacked extension in Chrome/Edge/Brave. For the demo, open http://localhost:3000 to see the verification dashboard.

🛠️ Tech Stack

• Next.js (Pages Router) — frontend + API routes
• TypeScript — because I like my types strict
• Tailwind CSS — rapid styling without leaving HTML
• IPFS (via Helia) — content-addressed storage for source snapshots
• Merkle Tree (custom implementation) — lightweight credential chain hashing
• Ethers.js — wallet integration for signing credentials
• Zustand — state management for extension popup

📊 Features

• ✅ One-click verification — highlight any text or image on a page and instantly check its credential chain
• 🔗 Chain-of-custody timeline — visual graph showing who published, modified, or vouched for content
• 🚩 Tamper detection — flags content that doesn't match the original hash stored on-chain
• 🕵️ Impersonation alert — warns if a known publisher's credential key doesn't match their usual signing pattern
• 📎 Dead link recovery — if the original source is gone, it shows the last verified snapshot from IPFS
• 📱 Shareable verification badge — generates a lightweight QR that embeds the credential chain for social media
• 🔍 Batch scan mode — check an entire page or thread for suspicious content in one go

🔮 Future Work

• Mobile companion app for scanning screenshots offline
• Integration with major news APIs (AP, Reuters) for automatic publisher key registration
• Decentralized oracle network for real-time URL status checks
• Browser extension for Safari and Firefox (because cross-browser pain is real)
• AI-powered deepfake detection layer for video content
• Plugin for WordPress and Medium to auto-verify embedded sources
• Token-gated access for premium verification nodes
• Social media API integration to flag suspicious posts before they trend
• Real-time collaboration tool for journalists to co-sign credential chains
• Full DAO governance for the credential registry — because every weekend project needs a DAO
• Add a dark mode toggle that also makes your coffee ☕

🤝 Contributing

Pull requests are welcome — if you find a bug or have an idea, open an issue and I'll get back to you within the hackathon aftermath window.

📝 License

MIT

👤 About the Developer

I'm a passionate full-stack developer with a strong interest in decentralized systems and information integrity. This project demonstrates my ability to rapidly prototype complex architectures while maintaining clean, readable code. I enjoy tackling challenges at the intersection of UX and cryptography, and I'm always looking for new ways to apply blockchain technology to real-world problems. When I'm not coding, I enjoy reading about emerging tech trends and contributing to open-source communities. This project reflects my commitment to building tools that empower users and promote transparency in digital media.