There is functionality for JWT validation in nginx but its only in the Plus version. But the implementation is very simple.

e.g.

location /products {

auth_jwt "PRODUCT API"

auth_jwt_key_file secret_api.jwk

proxy_pass ...

}

But with open source version you have to use 3rd party like "nginx-jwt" which is a lua script for nginx server to handle JWT based authentication/authorization.