ERC-5192: a locked NFT reports transferability, not the truth of a credential
The minimal soulbound interface exposes a token’s locked state. The meaning and reliability of a claimed credential remain outside that small interface.
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What the primary record establishes
ERC-5192, created on 1 July 2022 and marked Final, extends ERC-721 with a minimal soulbinding interface detected through ERC-165. Its locked function reports the relevant token’s status. Ethereum — ERC-5192, Final ↗
What the distinction changes
This is useful to a wallet deciding whether to present a transfer action. It does not, on its own, verify an issuer’s identity or the factual accuracy of a certificate.
What to check before drawing a conclusion
An integration should inspect the token identifier, deployed contract and the issuer’s terms. Do not infer an entire revocation or recovery policy from one boolean.
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Original WFN vector illustrationWFN · 28 October 2026
Editorial noteSource-based explanation with original WFN analysis. Historical records retain their dates; numerical examples are illustrative. The original vector illustration is conceptual and is not documentary evidence.
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What is on the record?
Primary-source explainer
Primary-source explainer
Primary record / reference periodFinal specification, created 1 July 2022
The linked source supports the documented record; WFN interpretation and illustrative examples are separate.
The minimal soulbound interface exposes a token’s locked state. The meaning and reliability of a claimed credential remain outside that small interface.
01 · VERIFIED RECORD
What the primary record establishes
ERC-5192, created on 1 July 2022 and marked Final, extends ERC-721 with a minimal soulbinding interface detected through ERC-165. Its locked function reports the relevant token’s status. Ethereum — ERC-5192, Final ↗
When locked returns true, ERC-721 functions that transfer the token between accounts must throw. Locked and Unlocked events communicate status changes. Ethereum — ERC-5192, Final ↗
02 · WFN EDITORIAL ANALYSIS
What the distinction changes
This is useful to a wallet deciding whether to present a transfer action. It does not, on its own, verify an issuer’s identity or the factual accuracy of a certificate.
Locking a token to an account also differs from proving that a particular human controls that account. The credential’s real-world interpretation needs additional evidence.
03 · REVIEW POINTS
What to check before drawing a conclusion
An integration should inspect the token identifier, deployed contract and the issuer’s terms. Do not infer an entire revocation or recovery policy from one boolean.
The historical standard supplies a compatibility signal. A trustworthy credential service must separately document issuance, evidence, corrections and user consent rather than treating non-transferability as a complete trust model.
