Decentralized Trusted Timestamping using the Crypto Currency Bitcoin
Abstract
Trusted timestamping is a process for proving that certain information existed at a given point in time. This paper presents a trusted timestamping concept and its implementation in form of a web-based service that uses the decentralized Bitcoin block chain to store anonymous, tamper-proof timestamps for digital content. The service allows users to hash files, such as text, photos or videos, and store the created hashes in the Bitcoin block chain. Users can then retrieve and verify the timestamps that have been committed to the block chain. The non-commercial service enables anyone, e.g., researchers, authors, journalists, students, or artists, to prove that they were in possession of certain information at a given point in time. Common use cases include proving that a contract has been signed, a photo taken, a video recorded, or a task completed prior to a certain date. All procedures maintain complete privacy of the user's data.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1502.04015,
title = {Decentralized Trusted Timestamping using the Crypto Currency Bitcoin},
author = {Bela Gipp and Norman Meuschke and André Gernandt},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1502.04015},
year = {2021}
}
Comments
to appear at the iConference 2015, Newport Beach, CA, USA, March 24-27, 2015