SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLED ACCESS TO AUDIT DATA ON BLOCKCHAIN

1 . A computer-implemented method of providing access to confidential data stored in a blockchain relating to a plurality of smart contracts, the method comprising:

detecting, by one or more processors, that a new smart contract has been created;

generating, by the one or more processors, a public key and a private key for the new smart contract, wherein the private key is used by each party that accesses encrypted data associated with the new smart contract;

encrypting, by the one or more processors, data associated with the new smart contract using the public key of the smart contract, the data associated with the new smart contract including documents subject to review by an auditor;

compiling, by the one or more processors, the data associated with the new smart contract into a first block of the blockchain;

distributing, by the one or more processors, the first block to a plurality of nodes to form a consensus on a first update to the blockchain;

detecting, by the one or more processors, a request to provide access to the data associated with the new smart contract to a particular node of the blockchain, the request indicating the particular node, wherein the particular node is associated with the review by the auditor;

obtaining, by the one or more processors, a public key for the particular node from at least one of (i) a public key database or (ii) the request to provide access to the data associated with the new smart contract;

generating, by the one or more processors, a transaction indicating (i) the private key for the new smart contract, the private key for the new smart contract being encrypted based upon the public key for the particular node, and (ii) the particular node;

compiling, by the one or more processors, the transaction into a second block of transactions; and

distributing, by the one or more processors, the second block to the plurality of nodes to form a consensus on a second update to the blockchain.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the particular node is associated with a government auditor.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the particular node is associated with a third-party auditor.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein generating the transaction further comprises:

applying, by the one or more processors, a digital signature to the transaction, the digital signature being generated based upon the private key for a node associated with the one or more processors.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first block and the second block are the same block.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein generating the transaction comprises:

determining, by the one or more processors, a permission level associated with the particular node; and

generating, by the one or more processors, the transaction when the permission level indicates that the particular node is permitted to access the documents subject to review by the auditor.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the request to provide access to the data further comprises:

receiving, at the one or more processors, the request from a requesting node;

determining, by the one or more processors, a permission level associated with the requesting node; and

generating, by the one or more processors, the transaction when the permission level indicates that the requesting node is permitted to request that other nodes receive access to the documents subject to review by the auditor.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the requesting node is the particular node.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the request to provide access to the data further comprises:

generating, by the one or more processors, the request to provide access to the data associated upon being directed by the new smart contract.

10 . A computer system for providing access to confidential data stored in a blockchain relating to a plurality of smart contracts, the computer system comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more transceivers adapted to communicate with a plurality of nodes;

a non-transitory program memory coupled to the one or more processors and storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer system to:

detect that a new smart contract has been created;

generate a public key and a private key for the new smart contract, wherein the private key is used by each party that accesses encrypted data associated with the new smart contract;

encrypt data associated with the new smart contract using the public key of the smart contract, the data associated with the new smart contract including documents subject to review by an auditor;

compile the data associated with the new smart contract into a first block of the blockchain;

distribute, via the one or more transceivers, the first block to a plurality of nodes to form a consensus on a first update to the blockchain;

detect a request to provide access to the data associated with the new smart contract to a particular node of the blockchain, the request indicating the particular node wherein the particular node is associated with the review by the auditor;

obtain a public key for the particular node from at least one of (i) a public key database or (ii) the request to provide access to the data associated with the new smart contract;

generate a transaction indicating (i) the private key for the new smart contract, the private key for the new smart contract being encrypted based upon the public key for the particular node, and (ii) the particular node;

compile the transaction into a second block of transactions; and

distribute, via the one or more transceivers, the second block to the plurality of nodes to form a consensus on a second update to the blockchain.

11 . The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the particular node is associated with a government auditor.

12 . The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the particular node is associated with a third-party auditor.

13 . The computer system of claim 10 , wherein to generate the transaction, the instructions, when executed, cause the computer system to:

apply a digital signature to the transaction, the digital signature being generated based upon the private key for a node associated with the one or more processors.

14 . The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the first block and the second block are the same block.

15 . The computer system of claim 10 , wherein to generate the transaction, the instructions, when executed, cause the computer system to:

determine a permission level associated with the particular node; and

generate the transaction when the permission level indicates that the particular node is permitted to access the documents subject to review by the auditor.

16 . The computer system of claim 10 , wherein to detect the request to provide access to the data, the instructions, when executed, cause the computer system to:

receive the request from a requesting node;

determine a permission level associated with the requesting node; and

generate the transaction when the permission level indicates that the requesting node is permitted to request that other nodes receive access to the documents subject to review by the auditor.

17 . The computer system of claim 16 , wherein the requesting node is the particular node.

18 . The computer system of claim 10 , wherein to detect the request to provide access to the data, the instructions, when executed, cause the computer system to:

generate the request to provide access to the data associated upon being directed by the new smart contract.

19 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions, that, when executed, cause one or more processors to:

detect that a new smart contract has been created;

generate a public key and a private key for the new smart contract, wherein the private key is used by each party that accesses encrypted data associated with the new smart contract;

encrypt data associated with the new smart contract using the public key of the smart contract, the data associated with the new smart contract including documents subject to review by an auditor;

compile the data associated with the new smart contract into a first block of a blockchain;

distribute the first block to a plurality of nodes to form a consensus on a first update to the blockchain;

detect a request to provide access to the data associated with the new smart contract to a particular node of the blockchain, the request indicating the particular node wherein the particular node is associated with the review by the auditor;

obtain a public key for the particular node from at least one of (i) a public key database or (ii) the request to provide access to the data associated with the new smart contract;

generate a transaction indicating (i) the private key for the new smart contract, the private key for the new smart contract being encrypted based upon the public key for the particular node, and (ii) the particular node;

compile the transaction into a second block of transactions; and

distribute the second block to the plurality of nodes to form a consensus on a second update to the blockchain.

20 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein to generate the transaction the instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:

apply a digital signature to the transaction, the digital signature being generated based upon the private key for a node associated with the one or more processors.