Specification

https://w3c.github.io/vcalm/

Explainer

https://w3c.github.io/vcalm/#introduction

Links

• The WG's request for this TAG review: https://www.w3.org/2026/08/12-vcwg-minutes.html#ResolutionSummary
• Previous early design review, if any: No previous review.
• An introduction to the feature, aimed at unfamiliar audiences: https://w3c.github.io/vcalm/#introduction
• A description of the problems that end-users were facing before this proposal: https://w3c.github.io/vcalm/#introduction (prior to the conception of the VCALM specification, the verifiable credential data model had no well-defined APIs to exchange credentials between multiple roles in the three-party model and manage the entire lifecycle of the credentials in a manner that encourages competition and prevents vendor lock-in)
• Alternatives considered: https://w3c.github.io/vcalm/#relationship-to-other-specifications
• Examples of how to use the proposal to solve the end-users' problems:
  • https://w3c.github.io/vcalm/#exchange-examples
  • https://w3c.github.io/vcalm/#initiating-interactions
• What do the end-users experience with this proposal:
  • https://w3c.github.io/vcalm/#introduction
  • https://w3c.github.io/vcalm/#architecture-overview
  • https://w3c.github.io/vcalm/#exchange-examples
  • https://w3c.github.io/vcalm/#initiating-interactions
• User research you did to validate the problem and/or design, if any: Feedback and extensive discussion from production deployments (CA DMV, National Association of Convenience Stores, Conexxus standards work, TruAge) and pilot programs (DHS “plugfest” series, Interoperability “plugfest” series co-organized by Jobs for the Future (JFF) and the Verifiable Credentials for Education W3C task force (VC EDU), California Career Passport usability studies, US First Responders, US Vital Records)
• Test Suite: N/A. This will be created when transitioning into CR. The expectation will be to follow existing pattern for VC test suites at https://github.com/w3c/vcalm-test-suite resulting in additions to the VC ecosystem conformance dashboard: https://canivc.com/

The specification

• Follows the Web Platform Design Principles.
• Includes Security and Privacy Considerations sections based on answers to the Security/Privacy Questionnaire.

Where and by whom is the work is being done?

• GitHub repo: https://github.com/w3c/vcalm
• Primary contacts:
  • Kayode Ezike (@kezike), Gobekli, Editor/Author
  • Patrick St. Louis (@PatStLouis), Open Security and Identity, Editor/Author
  • Ivan Herman (@iherman), W3C, Staff Contact
  • Phil Archer (@philarcher), GS1, VCWG Chair
• Organization/project driving the specification: National Association of Convenience Stores, Conexxus, TruAge, California DMV, Skybridge Skills, US DHS Science and Technology, Digital Credentials Consortium, Digital Bazaar, Gobekli, California Career Passport, and multiple other W3C VCWG Members and credentialing initiatives
• This work is being funded by: National Association of Convenience Stores, California DMV, Conexxus, Digital Bazaar, Digital Credentials Consortium
• Primary standards group developing this feature: W3C Verifiable Credentials Working Group
• Incubation and standards groups that have discussed the design:
  • W3C Credentials Community Group
  • W3C JSON-LD Community Group
  • W3C JSON-LD Working Group
  • US Federal Agencies
  • Internet Identity Workshop
  • Rebooting the Web of Trust

Feedback so far

• Active horizontal reviews: w3c/vcalm#627
• Multi-stakeholder feedback:
  • Years of incubation in the W3C Credentials Community Group (CCG)
  • Active processing of issues: https://github.com/w3c/vcalm/issues
  • Feedback and extensive discussion from production deployments (CA DMV, National Association of Convenience Stores, Conexxus standards work, TruAge) and pilot programs (DHS “plugfest” series, Interoperability “plugfest” series co-organized by Jobs for the Future (JFF) and the Verifiable Credentials for Education W3C task force (VC EDU), California Career Passport usability studies, US First Responders, US Vital Records)
• Major unresolved issues with or opposition to this specification: No major unresolved issues
• Status/issue trackers for implementations: None yet

You should also know that...

We are planning to enter Candidate Recommendation as soon as we have received horizontal reviews and responded to requests for changes. This is one of the reviews that is gating our entrance into Candidate Recommendation. Our goal is to enter Candidate Recommendation during W3C TPAC 2026.

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