@certnode/verify

Command-line tool to verify CertNode receipts with 3-layer cryptographic timestamp verification.

Features

• ✅ CertNode Timestamp - HMAC-SHA256, instant verification (<100ms)
• ✅ RFC 3161 Timestamp - Court-admissible Time Stamp Authority proof
• ✅ Bitcoin Anchor - Immutable blockchain proof via OpenTimestamps
• 🎨 Color-coded output - Easy-to-read verification results
• 📊 Multiple output formats - Human-readable or JSON
• ⚡ Fast - Typically completes in <2 seconds

Installation

# Run directly with npx (no installation needed)
npx @certnode/verify receipt_abc123

# Or install globally
npm install -g @certnode/verify
certnode-verify receipt_abc123

Usage

Basic Verification

npx @certnode/verify receipt_abc123

Output:

✓ Receipt Verification Complete

📄 Receipt Information
  ID: receipt_abc123
  Type: transaction
  Created: 11/10/2025, 12:34:56 PM

🔐 Cryptographic Timestamps
  ✓ CertNode Timestamp
     11/10/2025, 12:34:56 PM
     Verified

  ✓ RFC 3161 Timestamp
     11/10/2025, 12:34:58 PM
     Verified

  ✓ Bitcoin Blockchain Anchor
     Block 870234 (6 confirmations)

📊 Overall Status
  ✓ Fully Verified

JSON Output

npx @certnode/verify receipt_abc123 --json

Output:

{
  "receipt_id": "receipt_abc123",
  "valid": true,
  "layers": {
    "certnode": {
      "present": true,
      "valid": true,
      "timestamp": "2025-11-10T12:34:56.789Z"
    },
    "rfc3161": {
      "present": true,
      "valid": true,
      "timestamp": "2025-11-10T12:34:58.123Z"
    },
    "bitcoin": {
      "present": true,
      "valid": true,
      "status": "confirmed",
      "block_height": 870234,
      "confirmations": 6
    }
  },
  "summary": {
    "total_layers": 3,
    "verified_layers": 3,
    "status": "fully_verified"
  }
}

Custom API Endpoint

npx @certnode/verify receipt_abc123 --api-url https://api.certnode.com

Options

| Option | Description | Default | |--------|-------------|---------| | --json | Output results as JSON | false | | --api-url <url> | Custom API endpoint | https://certnode.com | | --help | Show help message | | | --version | Show version number | |

Verification Levels

Fully Verified ✅

All three timestamp layers verified successfully:

• CertNode timestamp valid
• RFC 3161 timestamp valid
• Bitcoin anchor confirmed

Partially Verified ⚠️

Core timestamps verified, Bitcoin pending:

• CertNode timestamp valid
• RFC 3161 timestamp valid
• Bitcoin anchor pending confirmation

Basic Verified ℹ️

Only CertNode timestamp verified:

• CertNode timestamp valid
• Other layers pending or not present

Failed ❌

Verification failed:

• Timestamp signatures invalid
• Receipt not found
• Network errors

Exit Codes

| Code | Meaning | |------|---------| | 0 | Verification successful | | 1 | Verification failed | | 2 | Receipt not found | | 3 | Network error | | 4 | Invalid arguments |

Examples

Verify a Receipt

# Basic verification
npx @certnode/verify receipt_abc123

# Get JSON output for scripting
npx @certnode/verify receipt_abc123 --json

# Use in CI/CD pipeline
npx @certnode/verify $RECEIPT_ID --json > verification.json

Batch Verification

# Verify multiple receipts
for receipt_id in receipt_1 receipt_2 receipt_3; do
  npx @certnode/verify $receipt_id --json >> verifications.json
done

Integration with jq

# Extract only the verification status
npx @certnode/verify receipt_abc123 --json | jq '.summary.status'

# Check if Bitcoin anchor is confirmed
npx @certnode/verify receipt_abc123 --json | jq '.layers.bitcoin.status'

# Get block height
npx @certnode/verify receipt_abc123 --json | jq '.layers.bitcoin.block_height'

Programmatic Usage

You can also use the verification library in your Node.js code:

import { verifyReceipt } from '@certnode/verify'

const result = await verifyReceipt('receipt_abc123', {
  apiUrl: 'https://certnode.com'
})

console.log(result.valid) // true
console.log(result.summary.status) // 'fully_verified'
console.log(result.layers.bitcoin.block_height) // 870234

How It Works

CertNode uses a 3-layer timestamp system for maximum proof strength:

Layer 1: CertNode Timestamp (Instant)

• HMAC-SHA256 signature
• Server signs receipt with secret key
• Verified in <100ms
• Proves receipt existed at specific time

Layer 2: RFC 3161 Timestamp (2-5 seconds)

• Time Stamp Authority (TSA) signature
• Court-admissible legal proof
• Third-party verification
• TSA: freetsa.org

Layer 3: Bitcoin Blockchain (1-2 hours)

• OpenTimestamps proof
• Anchored to Bitcoin block
• Immutable and permanent
• Independently verifiable

Troubleshooting

Receipt Not Found

Error: Receipt not found: receipt_abc123

Solution: Verify the receipt ID is correct

Network Error

Error: Network error: ECONNREFUSED

Solution: Check your internet connection or API endpoint

Bitcoin Anchor Pending

⏳ Bitcoin Blockchain Anchor
   Pending confirmation...

Solution: Bitcoin anchoring takes 1-2 hours. Check back later.

API

The CLI uses the CertNode verification API:

GET https://certnode.com/api/timestamps/verify?receipt_id={id}

See full API documentation at: https://docs.certnode.com/api/timestamps

Support

• Documentation: https://docs.certnode.com
• API Reference: https://docs.certnode.com/api
• Issues: https://github.com/srbryant86/certnode/issues
• Email: [email protected]

License

MIT © CertNode

Related

• CertNode Core - Receipt verification platform
• OpenTimestamps - Bitcoin timestamp proof
• RFC 3161 - Time-Stamp Protocol