The Rootstock Attestation Service (RAS) is officially live on Rootstock Explorer v3. This new release is empowering developers and enterprises to build verifiable, tamper-proof, and decentralized trust layers on the Bitcoin’s most secure DeFi layer.
Developers can now easily create, anchor, and verify attestations directly through the Explorer interface, streamlining the way on-chain and off-chain data is verified.
What are Attestations?
Attestations, in a general sense, involve formally witnessing and verifying the proper signing of a document or claim by the parties involved. In the context of blockchain and crypto, attestation refers to the on-chain or off-chain verification of any transaction or contract, confirming its authenticity and the truthfulness of its source or originator. Think Docusign or Documenso for signing contracts or documents with a trail of its origin and timestamp.
What are Onchain and Offchain Attestations?
Onchain Attestations: These are attestations stored directly on Rootstock. They are immutable and benefit from the security of Bitcoin. They work best when attestations need to be read by smart contracts or verify that it’s available on chain.
Offchain Attestations: These attestations are stored on Rootstock, typically in a database or another storage mechanism like IPFS. They are linked to the blockchain through cryptographic signatures but do not reside on it. Offchain attestations work best when you want to hold the attestation privately and shared on a need to know basis.
What Is Rootstock Attestation Service (RAS)?
RAS is an on-chain and off-chain attestation framework inspired by Ethereum’s Attestation Service, designed specifically for the Rootstock (RSK) network. It enables users to issue, store, and verify immutable statements or claims, called attestations, about any on-chain and off-chain data, event, or claim.
Read the full developer guide to RAS
Whether you’re anchoring documents, issuing credentials, or building compliance tools, RAS gives you the access to build trust without intermediaries.
Why RAS Matters
- Immutable Proof
Anchor documents, contracts, claims, or events to the Rootstock blockchain with a verifiable cryptographic timestamp.
- Verifiable Credentials
Issue and verify credentials like diplomas, certifications, or KYC/AML statuses in a decentralized manner.
- Transparent Audits
Create audit trails for business processes, compliance checks, or supply-chain workflows—recorded on-chain for integrity.
- DeFi Integrations
Record staking history, credit scores, or behavioral data for decentralized finance applications and protocols.
Features of RAS
RAS is publicly accessible via the Rootstock Explorer, developers or general users can now verify claims on the Rootstock network:
- Use the indexer service to index and query on chain data: allowing you to index and query attestation data efficiently. See how to install and use the Indexer service locally.
- Use the Rootstock Explorer to easily explore, create, and verify schemas and attestations. Designed for both technical and non-technical users, the explorer offers a simple and intuitive interface to interact with attestations on the Rootstock network. Read the developer guide to using RAS.
Real-World Use Cases
Document Notarization
Prove a contract or statement existed at a specific time—no third party needed.
Supply Chain Traceability
Timestamp inspections, shipping updates, or quality control milestones.
Verifiable Certificates
Issue tamper-proof academic or professional credentials that anyone can verify on-chain.
Reputation Scores in DeFi
Anchor user behavior, reviews, and on-chain activity to support lending or governance decisions.
Explore RAS on Rootstock Explorer v3
The new Rootstock Explorer v3 makes it easy to view and interact with RAS attestations. Developers can now explore attestation history, track issued statements, and verify claims directly through a sleek, user-friendly interface.
Start building with RAS today
Visit the RAS Developer Docs to learn how to issue your first attestation, or head to Rootstock Explorer v3 to start exploring the new features.
