Velocity Network Foundation (VNF) is delighted to share its key updates with the broader credentialing ecosystem and openly invite your feedback and participation in our exciting work.
As we turn the corner on a new year, we want to celebrate the journey we have taken as a Foundation over the past year and set the stage for exciting evolution in 2025. Here’s “what to know” as we further our work as a membership coalition to transform career credentials into digitized records that can be trusted, secure, private, compliant, and globally mobile.
As you read, please remember that we are a trust framework, offering career credentials governance, developed and led by our contributing Members. Together, we empower the global labor market with our free/open-source technology that can be used by any vendor, credentialing platform, digital wallet, institution, employer, government, etc. to participate in our global network for career credentials.
Again, we welcome you to join us! Build on your own leveraging our robust documentation, or formally join as a Member and influence the Network’s collective direction.
Hope to work with you soon.
*In this Summary: New Members: Arkansas, Digital Promise, 1EdTech, REC; Adoption Updates: US Healthcare, European Banking, India IT Services, Global Education; Product Updates: Trust, Digital Wallets, Data Schemas (Nursing License, CLR), PDF Attachments.
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Enter 2025 – What to Know
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Governance
Results of the 3rd Annual Elections to the Board of Directors
VNF recently completed our third annual Board of Directors elections. As a founding principle, all members participate in the democratic governance framework and are eligible to vote for the Board of Directors.
This year, ten seats were up for election and 94% of eligible member organizations cast their votes. VNF is grateful for such high participation by our membership and excited by what this level of engagement means for the ongoing success of the Velocity Network.
The ten elected board members are:
- Deb Everhart – Chief Strategy Officer, Credential Engine – Delegate
- Bill Hughes – CEO, Education Design Lab – Delegate
- Sanjoe Tom Jose – CEO & Founder, Talview – Delegate
- Manoj Kutty – CEO & Foundation, Greenlight Credentials – Delegate
- Robert McGough – Chief Data Officer, State of Arkansas – Delegate
- Marty Reed – Chief Product Officer, Level Data – Delegate
- Meagan Treadway – Director of Special Projects, GVSU NextEd CoLab – Delegate
- Dr. Henry Mack, Vice President, St. Thomas University and Former Higher Education & Workforce Chancellor for the State of Florida – Non-Affiliated
- James Owens – CEO of Atheneum and former CEO of Cisive – Non-Affiliated
- Hermine Wong – Lecturer, University of California Berkeley School of Law and Advisory and Strategist – Non-Affiliated
These ten board members join our existing ten serving board members to make up the 2025 Velocity Network Foundation Board of Directors.
This year’s election process was extremely competitive, presenting incredible candidates from leading organizations around the globe. We are deeply appreciative of all the candidates, elected or not, for taking part in the elections, and looks forward to their continued involvement in building the Internet of Careers.
NACE Joins Velocity Network Foundation Advisory Board
The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has joined the Velocity Network Foundation (VNF) as its newest Advisory Board Member. This partnership is significant as a NACE representative will fill the final seat on the VNF Advisory Board, further strengthening collaboration and guidance for the organization.
NACE, a leading voice in higher education employment, brings valuable insights and a fresh perspective to the Velocity ecosystem. This collaboration aligns perfectly with VNF’s focus on activating career services professionals and empowering learner-workers. NACE’s expertise in career outcomes and their commitment to equitable employment will significantly contribute to the advancement of digital credentialing initiatives within the Velocity Network.
Velocity Members Explore Trust and Truth in an AI-Enabled Talent Acquisition Market
The Velocity Network Foundation (VNF) and leading Members SAP, Randstad, and Korn Ferry recently examined how verifiable credentials are revolutionizing talent acquisition in an AI-driven marketplace. In a detailed blog, VNF highlighted the transformative potential of digital credentials in establishing trust, streamlining hiring processes, and ensuring compliance. VNF Members asserted that by integrating AI technologies with verifiable credentials, organizations can achieve greater efficiency while empowering individuals with secure control over their career data.
To complement this discussion, VNF hosted a roundtable webinar featuring industry leaders who explored the intersection of verifiable credentials and AI in talent acquisition. The session addressed how these innovations are solving real-world challenges and unlocking new opportunities in workforce management.
Read the blog here: Verifiable Credentials: Trust and Truth in an AI-Enabled Talent Acquisition Market.
Watch the roundtable webinar: Roundtable on Verifiable Credentials, Trust, and Truth in an AI-Enabled Talent Acquisition Market.
This important conversation showcased the future of talent acquisition and the critical role of verifiable credentials in shaping a more efficient, trustworthy workforce ecosystem.
Velocity Teaches the Trust Framework for Career Credentials
Velocity Network Foundation (VNF) is unique in that it provides a rigorous Trust Framework that supports the necessary levels of trust required for digital career credentials to be used in diverse scenarios—giving digital credentials broader applicability and impact while increasing the potential for learner/workers. Velocity Network offers the only global solution for career credentials, and the organization has taken extensive effort this past year to educate participants in digital credentialing ecosystems on the purpose of the Trust Framework, the risks of not operating within a Trust Framework, as well as how a strong Framework mitigates these risks.
Experience some of the discussion on the Velocity Network Trust Framework, here:
- Part 1. https://www.velocitynetwork.foundation/empowering-self-sovereign-identity-with-trusted-credentials-exploring-velocity-network-checks
- Part 2. https://www.velocitynetwork.foundation/velocity-networks-architecture-for-issuer-trust
- Part 3. https://www.velocitynetwork.foundation/authoritative-sources-for-verifiable-credentials
- SLAP / Trust Framework – https://www.velocitynetwork.foundation/the-slap-requirements-for-practical-verifiable-credentials
Web Video on the VNF Trust Framework: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQPtXthd658
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Adoption Updates
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Velocity Achieves Full Interoperability of Millions of Credentials Globally
The Velocity Network has proven its ability to support global interoperability over the past year, with credentials claimed in over 185 countries around the globe. This year, it passed a milestone of 2 million credentials issued with over 100 registered issuers on Network via tens of Credential Agent Operators—with many additional organizations in the building stages. Congratulations to all VNF Members for reaching this major milestone. To read more about Velocity’s unique and practical approach to global interoperability, see here:
VNF Interoperability: https://www.velocitynetwork.foundation/main2/global-interoperability-across-the-network
Progress in Healthcare Credentialing: SkillsONWARD Program Milestones
The SkillsONWARD program, spearheaded by the Velocity Network Foundation (VNF) and its members, has made remarkable progress in addressing critical challenges in the healthcare sectors of Florida and Texas. Focused on accelerating the adoption of instantly verifiable digital credentials, the program has successfully issued over 47,000 credentials to healthcare practitioners, with an impressive 81% opt-in rate for receiving offers.
These verifiable credentials, enabled by Velocity’s technology, streamline workforce onboarding and compliance, significantly reducing delays and inefficiencies in hiring. This initiative exemplifies the power of digital innovation to enhance HR processes and ultimately improve patient care. The program continues to expand, with new partnerships, ongoing integrations, and targeted efforts to address staffing shortages and workforce mobility.
REC-led UK-Staffing Industry Ecosystem, Design Workshop on 11 Jan
The Recruitment & Employment Confederation’s (REC’s) Talking Recruitment Podcast recently featured Velocity Network Foundation’s Head of Ecosystem alongside REC Chief Executive Officer. Together, they explored how digital, verifiable credentials (VCs) are revolutionizing the recruitment industry by speeding up hiring, reducing costs and risks for agencies, and simplifying compliance. The episode covered key topics such as the unique benefits of VCs, how they address challenges posed by AI, and the powerful synergy between AI and VCs in transforming talent acquisition. Looking ahead, the Velocity Network Foundation and REC are taking the next step by formally kicking off the REC-led UK-Staffing Industry ecosystem with a design workshop on January 11. This event will bring together industry stakeholders to co-create innovative solutions tailored to the staffing sector’s needs. Listen to the episode: Talking Recruitment Podcast.
VNF Global Education Adoption Team Advances Key Ecosystem Initiatives
The Velocity Network Foundation (VNF) Global Education Adoption Team made significant strides in strengthening the digital credentialing ecosystem through collaborative efforts and strategic initiatives. Key accomplishments included advancing the adoption of the Comprehensive Learner Record (CLR) standard and progressing toward certifying the Velocity Credential Agent, which supports the Open Badge Standard, through 1EdTech. These developments reinforced VNF’s commitment to creating trusted, interoperable credentialing frameworks.
The team also facilitated impactful demonstrations, with Sertifier unveiling its new web wallet and Joynd and 1EdTech showcasing an open-source credentialing platform that uses the CLR and Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL) to produce Velocity-enabled credentials. Additionally, the team welcomed new Global Education members and supported education-sector builds set for release in 2025, marking a pivotal step in advancing solutions that empower learners and enable seamless mobility across education and employment sectors.
Aon Jumpstarts Digital Credentialing Ecosystem in India
Aon, a founding member of the Velocity Network Foundation, achieved a major milestone by jumpstarting the Indian digital credentialing ecosystem through the issuance of digital, verifiable CoCubes assessment results. Over the past several months, Aon provided students with their assessment scores and badges reflecting their suitability for various professional roles, marking a significant step in advancing digital credentials in India. This accomplishment established Aon as a leader in the global digital credentialing movement, setting the foundation for a robust and scalable ecosystem.
Advancing the Dutch Digital Ecosystem
The Netherlands is leading the way in adopting verifiable credentials, with organizations like Randstad and Rabobank partnering with the Velocity Network Foundation to empower individuals in managing their career data. These efforts are transforming talent screening processes and fostering greater trust and interoperability within the digital ecosystem. As the ecosystem expands with new use cases, the Netherlands is positioning itself as a global leader in digital credential innovation, supported by key initiatives to promote decentralized infrastructure and self-sovereign identity.
New Service Packages Offered
Velocity Technical Support began offering support packages for assistance onboarding to Velocity Network. This decision by the Board of Directors aimed to ensure the long-term financial stability of the Foundation and provide a sustainable to effectively support our growing membership.
Detailed information on the available support packages can be found on the VNF website – the details of the support packages can be found on the VNF website here.
Important Notes:
- All product, business, and technical documentation, open-source code, and best practices developed within the Velocity community remained freely accessible to everyone.
- We are committed to continually improving our documentation to empower organizations with the knowledge and resources to successfully implement Velocity solutions.
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Product Committee
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Key Updates Across Features, Security, Wallets, and Community Engagement
The Velocity Network Foundation (VNF) Product Committee recently announced significant updates and releases across four major focus areas: New Features, Security, Wallets, and Community. These advancements reflect the ongoing commitment to enhancing the Velocity ecosystem and driving adoption of verifiable credentials globally.
- New Features: The committee unveiled new tools designed to improve the accessibility and usability of verifiable credentials. Notable updates include support for credential PDF and image attachments, enhancing the versatility of credential presentation. Additionally, the Credential Feeds API for Relying Parties was introduced, enabling organizations to seamlessly integrate credential data into their systems. With the implementation of DID:WEB support, the Velocity ecosystem now further aligns with decentralized identity standards. The Network is committed to open standards, as the update of the building blocks section of the website showcase.
- Security Enhancements: In a significant step forward, the network has successfully transitioned to the latest version of the Hyperledger Besu Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) node, ensuring a more secure and efficient infrastructure. Furthermore, SOC2 certifications for both the Velocity Network Foundation (VNF) and Velocity Career Labs (VCL) are now imminent, with audits completed by Ernst & Young (EY). These achievements underscore VNF’s dedication to maintaining the highest security and compliance standards.
- Wallet Innovations: Wallet functionality saw exciting advancements with the launch of VNF’s Alpha Reference web wallet, providing a new way for users to manage their credentials. Sertifier also launched its web wallet, further expanding wallet solutions within the ecosystem. Additionally, Greenlight’s app wallet is set to launch soon, tailored specifically for the U.S. healthcare ecosystem, signaling a critical milestone in supporting real-world applications of verifiable credentials.
- Community Growth: The Product Committee reaffirmed its commitment to fostering collaboration and scaling adoption. The Network is pursuing open-source contributions under the Linux Foundation, and by integrating innovative tools and enhancing infrastructure, the community is equipped to address real-world challenges across industries like healthcare, education, and workforce development.
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Velocity Incentives System
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Exploring Changes to our Token Mechanics
The Velocity Network Foundation (VNF) Payment & Rewards Committee made significant strides last year in refining the Network’s token mechanics to support its long-term growth and sustainability. Through a series of in-depth discussions with advisors, industry experts, and stakeholders, the committee explored key aspects such as governance structures, regulatory compliance, token allocation strategies, and solutions to enhance liquidity and usability. These efforts were instrumental in shaping a comprehensive framework for the Network’s future token generation and operational mechanics, with a focus on empowering users and ensuring alignment with global standards. The achievements of the committee marked an important milestone in advancing the Velocity Network’s ecosystem and its mission to create a trusted foundation for digital credentials.
Velocity Product Updates
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Participation in the Global Credentialing Ecosystem
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VNF Helps Found Arya
The Velocity Network Foundation (VNF) was proud to be a founding member of Arya, formerly known as the Global Acceptance Network (GAN), a consortium of over 30 organizations working to restore trust to the Internet. Arya aims to create a world where trusted data is as widely accepted as credit cards, ensuring that all parties can have confidence in the safety of their digital interactions. To learn more, visit: Arya LinkedIn Posts.
VNF Leads at Issuer Registry Advisory Group
In 2024, Velocity Network Foundation (VNF) joined the newly launched advisory group focused on developing standards and best practices for Issuer Registries. VNF contributed its extensive learnings from creating the Velocity Network trust framework over the past five years, providing valuable insights on the development of interoperable registries for Learning and Employment Records (LERs) and supporting the group’s goal of ensuring digital sharing of verifiable issuer lists while protecting credential privacy. VNF continues to benefit from the broad perspectives and knowledge of the community engaged in this work.
VNF Strengthens Partnership with Groningen Declaration Network
The Velocity Network Foundation (VNF) participated in the Groningen Declaration Network (GDN) conference in San Diego, presenting the session “What it Takes to Build a Global, Trusted, Compliant Framework for Exchange of Credentials.” The panel featured experts from VNF and partner organizations, including Territorium, PreCheck, AACRAO, and Credential Engine.
The discussion highlighted global initiatives designed to empower individuals with digital credentials for education, skills, certifications, and employment. The panel emphasized the importance of creating trusted frameworks to enable seamless mobility across institutions and the labor market, ensuring individuals can access opportunities without barriers.
Building on this collaboration, VNF and GDN are working on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and a webinar series to further align their efforts and strengthen their shared goals of advancing interoperability, trust, and accessibility in the digital credentialing ecosystem. This partnership marks a significant step toward enhancing global credential exchange and individual empowerment.
VNF Highlights Trust & Efficiencies in European Hiring
Velocity Network Foundation CEO Dror Gurevich attended the 1EdTech 2024 Learning Impact Europe in Barcelona, Spain. During his presentation, he explained how self-reported career records are unreliable and non-standardized, with misrepresentation being an endemic problem. He also discussed how, by using 1EdTech and other open standards, the Velocity Network enabled the global exchange of digital career records—trusted, private, and secure. Dror highlighted how interoperability is needed to work hand-in-hand with a network of trust—at enormous scale and great distance—to ensure success with digital career credentials.
VNF Members Represent Interoperability at SkillsFWD Human-Centered Data Mobility
The Velocity Network Foundation (VNF) empowered its members with critical insights during the SkillsFWD Human-Centered Data Mobility Event in Bentonville, Arkansas. Representatives from key organizations, including the State of Arkansas, AACRAO, Digital Promise, RIPL, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Education Design Labs, Level Data, and the Competency-based Exchange Network, convened to explore how digital credentials can seamlessly move across large ecosystems. VNF provided members with detailed talking points to highlight the role of the Velocity Network in facilitating digital credential interoperability. Members engaged in collaborative discussions, using real-life scenarios to examine user experiences and identify ways to enhance the earning, sharing, and transfer of skills through technology. These insights aimed to advance trust and adoption of digital credential wallets by addressing challenges and prioritizing a human-centered approach. The event underscored VNF’s commitment to equipping its members with the knowledge and tools necessary to drive innovation and improve the digital credential ecosystem.
Advancing Skills-Based Education: VNF and AACRAO at CBExchange
The Velocity Network Foundation (VNF) collaborated with AACRAO to present at the CBExchange, an annual conference hosted by C-BEN, a VNF member. The event brought together global stakeholders, including educators, employers, human resource professionals, and policymakers, to discuss advancing work and education through skills-based approaches. VNF and AACRAO shared insights on digital credentials and Learning and Employment Records (LERs) in Competency-Based Education (CBE). Key topics included leveraging alternative credentials for military-earned skills, enhancing credential value for lifelong learners, transitioning from learning outcomes to skills-based education, and using LERs to support skills-based hiring. The session highlighted innovative strategies to improve credential interoperability and catalyze talent potential in a skills-driven ecosystem.
VNF Highlights Trust Frameworks at 2024 CU Boulder Badge Summit
Velocity Network Foundation (VNF) participated in the 2024 CU Boulder Badge Summit, a premier event for exploring digital badge credentials. The summit brought together leaders from education, industry, government, and non-profit sectors to exchange ideas and innovations. VNF presented on Trust Frameworks during the general session, joined by panelists from the Trusted Learner Network (TLN) and Whiteboard Advisors, highlighting its expertise in fostering trust within digital credential ecosystems. Several VNF members also contributed as presenters, and the Summit partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation through its T3 Innovation Network project, which hosted its Mid-Year Meeting and closing reception in collaboration with the event.
Velocity at HR Tech Europe
The Velocity Network Foundation participated in the first European edition of HR Technology Europe on May 2 in Amsterdam, marking a successful expansion of the renowned HR Tech event. Velocity, alongside Randstad and Rabobank, presented on the transformative potential of verifiable credentials in reshaping the HR industry. Discussions focused on the importance of trust, interoperability, and empowering employees by enabling them to take control of their career data. This collaboration highlighted the Netherlands as a leader in adopting innovative credentialing solutions, setting a benchmark for the future of HR technology across Europe.
Velocity at Onboard Amsterdam
At Onboard Amsterdam, Europe’s largest event focused on employee onboarding and workforce integration, industry leaders gathered to discuss innovations in talent management. A panel featuring representatives from the Velocity Network Foundation (VNF), Randstad Nederland, Rabobank, Aon, and Unique Netherlands explored the session “From Verification to Employment: How Technology is Enhancing Talent Screening and Onboarding.”
The discussion centered on how the transition to a skills-based economy is reshaping the onboarding process, from initial talent screening to seamless integration into workplace roles. Panelists shared real-world examples demonstrating how trusted frameworks for sharing career records are solving challenges related to hiring, onboarding, and employee development. The session emphasized the role of technology in creating more efficient, personalized, and inclusive workforce onboarding strategies.
Velocity Network Foundation in Learn/Work Ecosystem Library!
Velocity Network Foundation (VNF) is pleased to have contributed significant content to the Learn & Work Ecosystem Library, a tool launched under the leadership team of the national Credential As You Go (CAYG) initiative under the U.S. Department of Education’s IES grant program’s three-year award based upon the research of the George Washington University Program on Skills, Credentials, Workforce Policy. VNF contributed specifically around the topics of Verifiable Credentials, Trust Frameworks, Distributed Ledger Technology, and key terms relevant to Velocity Network Foundation’s work to build a unified data layer for diverse labor market stakeholders. Relevant terms in the Library are attributed to the Foundation, and VNF is pleased to have a chance to educate the market by contributing VNF Members’ unique perspective on how to achieve interoperability and credential mobility within a trust framework of diverse stakeholders—one such contribution is its LER Requirements Document.
Velocity Participates in AACRAO Infuse Session
The Velocity Network Foundation (VNF) participated in the AACRAO-convened session to ideate Infuse: Empowering Institutions, Enabling Learners, a collaborative initiative to democratize digital credentials in higher education. The project aims to transform legacy academic credentials, such as PDFs, into structured, interoperable digital credentials enriched with AI-inferred skills. This initiative focuses on accelerating mass adoption, enabling institutions to digitize records efficiently, and building a sustainable infrastructure for issuing digital credentials. Goals include ensuring interoperability, protecting learner data, and providing institutions access to tools and insights through a shared data platform.
VNF participated alongside key members, including C-BEN, 1EdTech, Credential Engine, and Western Governors University, in exploring this vision. The session highlighted the potential for transforming legacy records into digital credentials, furthering the mission of the Velocity Network. VNF thanks AACRAO and the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation for facilitating this important discussion.
Velocity Wrapped Up Advisory Role in Gates Foundation Learner Information Framework
Over the past 18 months, the Velocity Network Foundation (VNF) served on the Advisory Council of the Learner Information Framework (LIF), a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation project. Alongside organizations like Western Governors University, Credential Engine, Opportunity@Work, and Digital Promise, VNF contributed to developing a framework for integrating comprehensive, longitudinal learner information across systems.
The project addressed the fragmented nature of learner data by creating a common set of rules and semantics for assembling this information. Key efforts included harmonizing education data standards, creating proof-of-concept tools for data translation, and launching demonstration projects. At the final meeting, projects by Opportunity@Work and Western Governors University showcased the value of this framework for learners, institutions, and employers.
VNF remains committed to supporting LIF’s potential to advance the credentialing ecosystem and looks forward to future collaboration.
Thank you to all of our Members and a special thank you to our volunteer Advisory Board, Board of Directors, and Committee Chairs.