Canvas Badges/Credentials Release Notes (2025-06-02)

[#1]

Release notes outline upcoming customer-impacting changes that are expected to display in beta and/or production environments. Please note that features considered for future development are not included in the notes.

Unless otherwise stated, all features in this release are available in the Beta environment on 2025-05-26 and the Production environment on 2025-06-02.

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Table of Contents

• New Features
• Badges
• Open Badges 3.0 Available as Opt-In Feature

New Features

Back to Table of Contents

Badges

Open Badges 3.0 Available as Opt-In Feature

Admin Issuer Learner

Location to Enable Feature	Organization Content Settings
Permissions	Organization Admin
Affects User Interface	Yes
Affected Areas	Issuer Management, Badge Issuance, Badge Verification, Learner Backpack
Related Ideas	None

Summary

Canvas Credentials supports Open Badges 3.0 (OB3) as an opt-in feature controlled at the organization level. Paid organizations can enable OB3, which upgrades all new issuers to OB3 compliance and introduces a modern, secure, learner-centric credentialing model. When OB3 is disabled, new issuers default to OB2.1 standards. OB2 and OB3 badges can coexist in the system, and organizations can toggle between versions as needed.

Note: This is for paying organizations only. 

Change Benefit

This update allows organizations to have full control over OB3 adoption with a simple toggle managed by admins. OB2 and OB3 badges can exist side by side, ensuring that all existing badges remain valid and unchanged. OB3 introduces a learner-centric model, where badges are private by default and include verifiable credentials designed for long-term portability and user control. This flexible setup allows organizations to switch between OB2 and OB3 at any time, based on their readiness and ecosystem requirements.

Feature Workflow

Enable Open Badges 3.0 Toggle

In the Organization Content Settings, click the Enable Open Badges 3.0 toggle.

Issuer OB3 Pill

When this feature is enabled, all new issuers are OB3 compliant. OB3 badges are issued in the W3C Verifiable Credential format.

Manual Upgrade to OB3 Banner

Existing issuers created under OB2 continue issuing OB2 badges unless manually upgraded to OB3.

Notes: 

• OB3 credentials are private by default; learners control visibility.
• A unique signing key pair is generated per OB3 issuer.
• Existing OB3 credentials remain OB3, but no new OB3 issuers will be created.
• When OB3 is Disabled:
  • All new issuers will default to OB2.1 standards.
  • Existing issuers that were already OB3 can be manually downgraded back to OB2.1 if needed.

Downgrade Issuer to OB2.1 Link

To downgrade an issuer, click the Downgrade Issuer to OB2.1 link in the Options menu.

Learner Badge View

Learners receive OB3 badges that are private by default when OB3 is enabled [1]. To share the badge, click the Make it Public button [2]. Then click the Share button [3].

Notes: 

• Credentials can be downloaded regardless of their privacy setting. 
• Public badges can be shared individually or as part of a collection.
• When OB3 is disabled, learners receive OB2 badges, which are public and shareable by default, no additional steps are required.

Additional Details

• Availability: OB3 is available only to paid Canvas Credentials organizations. Free-tier users do not have access to this feature.
• Badge Issuance: OB3 badge import is not supported; only new OB3 badges can be issued.
• API Access: External consumer APIs for OB3 are not currently available. External systems cannot retrieve OB3 badges via API. OB2.1 BadgeConnect remains available for OB2 credentials.
• Privacy and Verification: OB3 badges are digitally signed and verifiable using issuer public keys. OB2 badges continue to rely on online verification.
• Key Management: Canvas Credentials automatically generates and manages signing key pairs for each OB3 issuer.
• Badge Format: Issuer and badge metadata can be viewed in either OB2 or OB3 JSON format.