OpenID for Verifiable Credentials - OID4VC

OpenID for Verifiable Credentials (OID4VC) is a collection of three core specifications developed by the OpenID Foundation that enable self-sovereign authentication and verifiable credentials issuance and presentation. The specifications consist of OpenID for Verifiable Credential Issuance (OID4VCI), OpenID for Verifiable Presentations (OID4VP), and Self-Issued OpenID Provider v2 (SIOPv2).

The framework implements the Issuer-Holder-Verifier model where:

• Issuers create and issue verifiable credentials to holders
• Holders store and manage credentials in their wallets
• Verifiers request and validate credential presentations
  Key technical features include:
• Support for multiple credential formats including W3C Verifiable Credentials, ISO 18013-5 mDL, and AnonCreds
• Built on OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect protocols
• Cryptographic holder binding to prevent credential sharing
• Privacy-preserving selective disclosure of claims

OID4VC has seen significant adoption, particularly in Europe where it is listed as a required specification in the European Digital Identity Architecture Framework. Notable implementations include:

18 wallets in the European Commission EBSI project support OID4VCI and OID4VP specifications
The DIF JWT VC Presentation Profile uses OID4VP as its base protocol
NIST National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence plans to implement OID4VP for mobile driver's license use cases