DeviceStamp Protocol — Architecture for Trust in the Circular Economy

A reference architecture for blockchain-based lifecycle verification and data integrity across circular industries.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

DeviceStamp is a verifiable infrastructure protocol designed to bring cryptographic trust to the circular economy.
It enables manufacturers, refurbishers, traders and marketplaces to anchor lifecycle data directly on the blockchain—creating tamper-proof, interoperable records of a product's origin, testing, repair, and reuse.

At its core, DeviceStamp bridges operational systems with verifiable infrastructure. Each lifecycle event generates a cryptographically signed record—linked to immutable storage via content identifiers (CIDs) and anchored on an EVM-compatible blockchain.
The result is a shared, vendor-independent layer of truth that verifies what happened, when, and by whom.

This document outlines the architecture, sustainability rationale, and compliance design of the DeviceStamp Protocol.
It demonstrates how verifiable data integrity—rather than self-reporting—can serve as the foundation of credible ESG reporting, circular supply chains, and digital product passports (DPPs).

1. Sustainability and the ESG Data Gap

The circular economy is often measured through reports rather than proofs. Enterprises declare recycled content, emission reductions, or repair rates, yet few can cryptographically prove those claims. ESG data remains fragmented, unverifiable, and prone to interpretation.

Regulators now recognize that traceability—not disclosure—is the new standard for sustainability.
The EU's Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and the Digital Product Passport (DPP) initiative explicitly require lifecycle data that is "verifiable, interoperable, and machine-readable."
DeviceStamp provides the missing infrastructure to make that possible.

The ESG Data Gap

Root Cause Description
No shared trust layer Each actor keeps its own database and audit logs. Proofs are local, not global.
No standard of verification Certificates and PDFs claim compliance but lack cryptographic finality.
No immutable history Data corrections overwrite evidence instead of extending it.

DeviceStamp introduces an immutable trust fabric that converts lifecycle reporting into verifiable ESG data.

Each proof is timestamped on-chain, pseudonymized for GDPR compliance, and linked to evidence artifacts (such as grading logs, inspection photos, or repair receipts).
This transforms ESG metrics from self-asserted indicators into provable sustainability evidence.

Instead of declaring "this device was reused," an operator can point to an immutable proof of test, wipe, and resale.
Regulators and partners can verify it without asking for internal data access.
This mechanism turns circular reporting into a shared verification infrastructure—essential for scaling global sustainability frameworks beyond voluntary disclosure.

2. Context: From Reporting to Proof

By 2027, the European Union's Digital Product Passport (DPP) will require electronic devices and other regulated products to carry a unique, verifiable digital record of their lifecycle.
This requirement arises under the ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation), which transforms sustainability from a matter of declarations into one of cryptographic traceability.

The DPP framework establishes three expectations:

  • Every product must have a unique digital identifier (linked to serial or IMEI).
  • Each lifecycle event—production, test, repair, resale, recycling—must be traceable and verifiable.
  • Data must be accessible across the value chain while maintaining privacy and interoperability.

Existing industry systems—grading software, warranty platforms, ERP databases—already collect this information.
What's missing is proof.
DeviceStamp adds that layer without replacing the systems that generate the data.
It is an infrastructure layer, not a platform or database.

3. The Problem: Fragmented and Unverifiable Lifecycle Data

Circular industries face a paradox: the more data they generate, the less verifiable it becomes.
Each participant—OEM, refurbisher, logistics provider, marketplace—records its own truth. Reports differ, certificates conflict, and auditors face unverifiable PDFs instead of proofs.

Challenge Impact
Unverified grading and repair data Reduces resale confidence
Multiple proprietary standards Blocks interoperability
No immutable record Enables greenwashing and fraud
Manual data entry and storage Limits scalability and automation

Without a neutral trust layer, the circular economy cannot scale.
DeviceStamp addresses this by providing a protocol that turns lifecycle events into cryptographically signed proofs, creating continuity of evidence across systems and time.

4. The DeviceStamp Protocol

DeviceStamp functions as a neutral verification layer rather than a central platform.
It provides a common method for creating and verifying lifecycle proofs while allowing each actor to retain full control of their operational data.

The Protocol's Four Principles

  1. Local authority — Each event is signed by the issuer (grader, repairer, or OEM).
  2. Immutable anchoring — Proofs are hashed and stored on a Layer-1 blockchain for permanence.
  3. Distributed evidence — Related artifacts (reports, images) are stored via content-addressed storage.
  4. Open verification — Anyone can independently confirm authenticity using public infrastructure or SDK tools.

This architecture allows interoperability between operators, marketplaces, and regulators—without centralizing sensitive data or introducing custodial dependencies.

5. System Architecture

5.1 Blockchain Anchoring (EVM L1)

DeviceStamp operates on an EVM-compatible Layer-1 blockchain, chosen for its open tooling and long-term verifiability.
Each event record is hashed, signed, and timestamped using EIP-712 structured data.
This ensures that every signature carries both human-readable and machine-verifiable meaning.

Key Features

  • Deterministic proof generation: identical data always produces identical hashes.
  • Final settlement: entries are recorded directly on L1 (not an L2 rollup).
  • Audit transparency: proofs are verifiable via public explorers or APIs.

This guarantees compatibility with Ethereum-based tools while maintaining low transaction costs and environmental efficiency through Proof-of-Stake consensus.

5.2 Verifiable Artifact Storage

DeviceStamp uses content-addressed storage to store evidence such as inspection photos or grading reports.
Artifacts are hosted off-chain but identified through a content identifier (CID)—a hash derived from the exact file content.

Storage Models

  • Distributed: via IPFS for public persistence.
  • Hybrid: IPFS + Glacier for long-term compliance retention.
  • Private: enterprise storage with verifiable CIDs.

Thus, data custody remains local, while verifiability remains global.

5.3 Signing and Verification Standards

DeviceStamp adopts the EIP-712 typed data signing standard, ensuring interoperability across all EVM-compatible wallets and systems.

Example Event Structure:

{
  "device_id": "IMEI or Serial",
  "event_type": "grading / repair / test / wipe / resale",
  "timestamp": "ISO 8601",
  "issuer_id": "address or org ID",
  "cid": "content hash reference"
}

Each event is signed with the issuer's private key and submitted to the smart contract. Verification requires no proprietary software—any Ethereum-compatible client can confirm authenticity and timestamp integrity.

6. Lifecycle Proof Model

Every product undergoes multiple transitions—manufacture, sale, use, repair, grading, and recycling. Each transition emits a DeviceStamp event, forming an unbroken chain of verifiable states.

Example Flow for a Smartphone

  1. Production: OEM issues initial stamp linking IMEI and manufacturing batch.

  2. Ownership: Marketplace adds purchase and warranty metadata.

  3. Repair/Refurbishment: Service center stamps repair logs and replaced components.

  4. Grading and Resale: Testing system issues grading proofs, stored with inspection images.

  5. Recycling: Recycler adds decommission proof.

Each stamp is immutable yet composable, forming a portable, verifiable lifecycle passport.

7. Compliance and Governance Mapping

DeviceStamp aligns with global standards governing environmental, product, and data integrity.

Regulation DeviceStamp Mapping
EU ESPR 2024/2027 Lifecycle traceability, repair/reuse documentation
EU Digital Product Passport (DPP) Unique product identity, verifiable history
ISO 14083 Transport and emissions reporting linkages
GDPR Pseudonymized off-chain data, selective disclosure
ISO/IEC 20243 Trusted supply-chain assurance principles

No personal data or trade secrets are stored on-chain. Only hashes and metadata references exist. Selective disclosure mechanisms allow sharing minimal required proof for any given verifier.

8. Adoption Pathways

DeviceStamp integrates invisibly into existing tools and workflows.

Primary Stakeholders

  • Software Vendors: integrate SDKs within grading or wiping tools.

  • Refurbishers & Operators: anchor repair or test results directly from systems.

  • Marketplaces: embed Verify Widget to show verified device history.

  • Distributors: trace spare parts and components through CIDs.

  • Auditors & Regulators: verify proofs through the Data API.

Each pathway strengthens a distinct trust relationship, forming a shared verification ecosystem.

9. Ecosystem Interoperability

DeviceStamp is vendor-neutral and system-agnostic. It interacts through APIs, SDKs, and smart contract interfaces.

  • API: for traditional environments.

  • SDKs: for software-level integration.

  • Widgets: for simple front-end verification.

Bridge compatibility will allow DeviceStamp proofs to interoperate with national DPP registries, OEM blockchains, or sustainability data systems—ensuring scalability without silos.

10. Governance and Longevity

Trust in digital infrastructure depends on governance neutrality. DeviceStamp is structured as a protocol, not a private platform. Smart contracts are auditable and designed for future multi-stakeholder governance.

In time, OEMs, recyclers, NGOs, and regulators can act as verifying nodes or governance participants—ensuring the system remains aligned with public interest.

Data written today remains verifiable decades later, preserving the integrity of the circular record.

11. Economic and Environmental Impact

Efficiency and Cost

By anchoring only minimal hashes instead of datasets, DeviceStamp minimizes cost while achieving verifiability. Proof-of-Stake consensus keeps energy consumption negligible, aligning with corporate ESG thresholds.

Sustainability Multiplier

Each verified reuse, repair, or recycling event contributes measurable reductions in electronic waste and embodied carbon.

Key Metrics

  • Verified reuse rate uplift

  • Auditable repair counts

  • Recycled parts provenance

This makes ESG reporting both credible and automatable, turning compliance into a business advantage.

12. Conclusion

The transition from sustainability claims to verifiable sustainability requires infrastructure that records truth, not opinion.

DeviceStamp provides that foundation: a blockchain-anchored, cryptographically verifiable protocol for lifecycle data integrity. It doesn't replace existing systems—it validates them.

By combining cryptographic signing, open verification, and neutral governance, it transforms compliance into trust, and trust into measurable impact.

When every lifecycle event becomes verifiable, the circular economy becomes accountable, financeable, and scalable.

Appendix: Key Terms

EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) — computational environment for smart contracts; ensures interoperability across chains.

EIP-712 — Ethereum standard for structured, human-readable message signing.

CID (Content Identifier) — hash derived from file content; ensures integrity in IPFS.

IPFS (InterPlanetary File System) — distributed storage using content addressing.

Glacier Storage — long-term cold storage for compliance and archival needs.

DPP (Digital Product Passport) — EU-mandated lifecycle traceability framework.

ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation) — regulatory foundation for sustainable product design.

Layer-1 Blockchain — primary settlement network providing transaction finality.

Proof-of-Stake (PoS) — energy-efficient consensus method for validating blockchain records.