A disruptive model in a market that didn’t yet understand the future

From day one, POK Proof of Knowledge was designed as a digital credential platform powered by NFT and blockchain technology. This was never a cosmetic or marketing choice; it was a deep conviction. The founding team understood that the future of educational, professional, and workplace identity relies on open, decentralized, interoperable, and self-sovereign credentials.

“Our vision was always clear: certificates cannot depend on a private server or a company. They must belong to you, live on the blockchain, and be verifiable forever.”
— Guido Grinbaum, Co-Founder of POK

However, the team quickly faced an unexpected challenge: the market didn’t understand the difference between a traditional Web2 credential and an NFT credential.

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NFT vs Web2: What’s the difference?

To understand why POK decided to launch a free version of its digital credentials, it’s important to highlight the key differences between a traditional Web2 model and an NFT-based Web3 model.

With a Web2 credential, ownership never belongs to the user. It remains under the control of the issuing platform. Its permanence depends entirely on whether the private server stays active, and verification is often manual, limited, and dependent on the provider. Interoperability is restricted to closed ecosystems, which means low portability and only moderate fraud resistance.

An NFT credential, on the other hand, represents a completely different paradigm: ownership belongs to the user, who stores it in their own digital wallet. Its permanence is guaranteed because it is recorded on blockchain forever. Verification becomes public, automatic, and decentralized, removing the need for intermediaries. It is interoperable with wallets, decentralized identities (DIDs), and digital passports, offering high portability. And when it comes to fraud resistance, it reaches the highest level thanks to blockchain cryptography.

Because many institutions couldn’t grasp these benefits, POK made a strategic decision: to launch a free and unlimited Web2 version.

“The market couldn’t compare because it had no reference points. So, we decided to give them the same product their current providers offered — but free — so they could see the difference for themselves.”
— Tomás Mindlin, CEO of POK

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What does POK’s free version include?

The free version of POK provides all the features offered by leading platforms like: Credly, Accredible, Certifier, Badgr, Sertifier.

But with one key difference: it’s 100% free, with no issuance limits.

That includes:

  • Instant credential issuance with name, institution, dates, skills, descriptions, etc.
  • Permanent verification via public URL
  • LinkedIn and social media compatibility
  • Editable design and institutional branding
  • Admin dashboard with tracking and statistics
  • Reports by cohorts, programs, or dates

“The only difference is that others charge you a high price, while we provide it for free. Because we don’t believe it has real value unless it’s backed by standards and is interoperable.”
— Silvina Valdez, COO of POK

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Why give it away for free?

For POK, the true value lies in NFT technology and international standards. The free version is not a promotion or a sample — it’s a way to prove that:

  • Traditional Web2 credentials are a commodity.
  • Institutions need advanced tools, like NFTs.
  • The future is decentralized, open, and user-owned.

“We believe that data, achievements, and educational identity cannot be locked into a platform. That’s why we give away the Web2 credential for free. It’s only the starting point.”
— Roy Berman, Co-Founder of POK

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Built on international standards

POK is the only platform worldwide that combines a free Web2 version with advanced NFT architecture while also complying with the most demanding global standards, such as:

  • OpenBadge 3.0 (1EdTech Consortium): ensuring platform compatibility, structured metadata, and traceability.
  • Europass & European Learning Model (ELM): adopted by the European Union as a framework for interoperable credentials.
  • W3C Verifiable Credentials: the global web standard for decentralized certifications.

“We are the only platform that integrates OpenBadge 3.0, ELM, W3C, and NFT in a single workflow. And we do it without charging for the basics. Because we believe in openness.”
— Larry Daniels, Co-Founder of POK

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What about competitors?

Today, all credential platforms remain limited to Web2. While some have started mentioning blockchain, none offer native NFT architecture — much less an unlimited free issuance option.

“We’re convinced they’ll start copying us. They already are. But we started first, we have a more robust architecture, and a broader vision.”
— Micaela Lezica, Co-Founder of POK

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Conclusion: The revolution has already begun

Offering a 100% free digital credential version wasn’t a commercial decision — it was philosophical and strategic. POK wants every institution in the world to take the first step and then advance toward NFT credentials that truly empower the user.

POK doesn’t charge for the basics. Because the basics must be free. And because the future of education cannot depend on private servers or closed models.

With POK, institutions can start for free, scale easily, and prepare for a world where every person owns their achievements.

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