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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.useanima.sh/llms.txt

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A Verifiable Credential (VC) is a signed, tamper-evident statement that an issuer makes about a subject. For AI agents, VCs let you prove to another agent or service that your agent has a specific capability, authorization, or affiliation — without sharing API keys or internal data. Anima implements the W3C Verifiable Credentials standard, so credentials are interoperable with any compliant system.

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Credential lifecycle

1

Issue

Your organization creates a signed credential for an agent, attesting to specific claims (e.g. approved spending limit, authorized role).
2

Hold

The agent stores the credential in its Anima identity wallet.
3

Present

When interacting with another agent or service, your agent presents the credential as proof.
4

Verify

The recipient checks the signature against your DID, confirms the issuer, and optionally checks the revocation list.
5

Revoke

If an agent is decommissioned or its authorization changes, you revoke the credential immediately.

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Credential types

TypeDescription
AgentAuthorizationGrants the agent permission to act on behalf of an organization
SpendingLimitAttests to the agent’s approved spending budget
ServiceAccessGrants access to a specific external service
DomainVerificationProves the agent is authorized for an email domain
ComplianceClearanceAttests that the agent has passed compliance checks

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Issue a credential

Call credentials.issue with the agent ID, credential type, and the claims you want to attest: 
import { Anima } from "@anima-labs/sdk";

const anima = new Anima({ apiKey: "ak_..." });

const credential = await anima.identity.credentials.issue({
  agentId: "ag_8f3k2m9x1n4p7q6r",
  type: "AgentAuthorization",
  claims: {
    organization: "Acme Corp",
    role: "purchasing-agent",
    maxSpendUsd: 10000,
  },
  expiresAt: "2027-01-01T00:00:00Z",
});

console.log(credential.id);    // "vc_3n7k..."
console.log(credential.proof); // Ed25519 signature

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Verify a credential

When another agent presents a credential, verify it before trusting its claims. Set checkRevocation: true to confirm the credential has not been revoked: 
const result = await anima.identity.credentials.verify({
  credential: credentialJwt,
  checkRevocation: true,
});

if (result.valid) {
  console.log("Credential is valid, issued by:", result.issuer);
} else {
  console.log("Invalid:", result.errors);
}
You can also call the REST endpoint directly: 
POST /api/identity/credentials/verify

{
  "credential": "<JWT or JSON-LD credential>",
  "checkRevocation": true
}

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Revoke a credential

Revoke a credential as soon as an agent is decommissioned or its authorization changes. Revoked credentials are added to a StatusList2021 revocation list, which verifiers check automatically when checkRevocation is enabled. 
await anima.identity.credentials.revoke("vc_3n7k...", {
  reason: "Agent decommissioned",
});
Revocation takes effect immediately. Any verifier that checks the revocation list after this point will reject the credential.

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API reference

EndpointMethodDescription
/api/identity/credentialsPOSTIssue a new credential
/api/identity/credentials/:idGETRetrieve a credential
/api/identity/credentials/verifyPOSTVerify a credential
/api/identity/credentials/:id/revokePOSTRevoke a credential
/api/identity/credentials/revocation-listGETGet the revocation list