IP Library Granted Patent US 12,026,699
Granted Patent B2
US 12,026,699 · App. 16/278,788 · Granted Jul 2, 2024

Offline crypto asset custodian

Inventors: Raymond James Cummings (Decatur, GA); Larry Scheinberg (New York, NY); Yamini Sagar (Alpharetta, GA); Joseph W. Albert (Brookhaven, GA); Mayur Kapani (Marietta, GA); Charles Vice (Roswell, GA)
Assignee: Intercontinental Exchange Holdings, Inc.
G06Q20/3672G06Q20/02G06Q20/0655G06Q20/3678G06Q20/389G06Q2220/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,026,699
App. No.
16/278,788
Granted
Jul 2, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for secure digital asset transactions. An offline system includes a custodian computer, digital asset accounts accessible by the custodian computer and a centralized ledger maintained by the custodian computer. The custodian computer is in communication with public ledger computers of a public ledger, and receives transaction data associated with digital assets from among entity computers. Each account is prefunded with digital asset funds. The custodian computer monitors a transaction parameter of the transaction data and, in accordance with the monitoring, generates a transfer instruction indicating transfer of funds between the first and second accounts, updates the centralized ledger responsive to the transfer instruction, and transfers the funds between the first and second accounts, responsive to the transfer instruction. The transfer instruction remains offline and is not transferred to the public ledger.

Claims (63)

1. A private custodian system for secure digital asset transactions comprising:

a custodian computer configured to communicate with a first entity computer via a first dedicated interface coupled to a first communications network and communicate with a public ledger via a second dedicated interface coupled to a second communications network;

a storage device within the custodian computer that is inaccessible by the first communications network and the second communications network; and

a private centralized ledger, the private centralized ledger comprising a repository within the private custodian system that is accessible by the custodian computer but inaccessible by the first communications network and the second communications network;

the custodian computer configured to:

receive, via the first dedicated interface, a request to trade digital assets from the first entity computer,

determine that the first entity computer is not a registered member of the private custodian system,

create a first digital asset account associated with the first entity computer, the first digital asset account stored in the storage device,

transfer, via the second dedicated interface, the digital assets from an external public wallet associated with the first entity computer on the public ledger to a public custodian wallet within the private custodian system for temporary storage, the second dedicated interface configured to communicate with the public ledger only for a duration of the transfer,

transfer the digital assets from the public custodian wallet to the first digital asset account for secure offline storage,

transfer a title of the digital assets to a custodian entity associated with the custodian computer and designating a first entity associated with the first entity computer as an owner of the digital assets,

update the private centralized ledger to include the transferred title and a designation of ownership of the digital assets,

update, via the second dedicated interface, the public ledger to record the transferred title of the digital assets, the second dedicated interface configured to communicate with the public ledger only for a duration of the update,

receive transaction data from the first entity computer via the first dedicated interface, the transaction data being associated with the digital assets,

monitor at least one transaction parameter associated with the received transaction data,

generate a transfer instruction that remains within the private custodian system and isolated from the public ledger, the transfer instruction indicating a transfer of a first portion of the digital assets from the first digital asset account to a second digital asset account associated with a second entity computer, the second digital asset account stored in the storage device,

update the private centralized ledger, responsive to the transfer instruction, without communication to the public ledger, to indicate the transfer of the first portion of the digital assets, and

transfer the first portion of digital assets between the first digital asset account and the second digital asset account responsive to the transfer instruction.

2. The private custodian system of claim 1 , wherein the custodian computer is further configured to:

receive, via the first dedicated interface, a request from the first entity computer to withdraw a second portion of the digital assets from the private custodian system;

determine that the second portion of the digital assets is available in the first digital asset account;

retrieve information about the external public wallet associated with the first entity computer;

generate a transfer instruction that remains within the private custodian system and isolated from the public ledger;

update the private centralized ledger based on the transfer instruction without communication to the public ledger, the update comprising modifying the second portion of the digital assets to transfer the title from the custodian entity to the first entity to thereby change the ownership to the first entity;

transfer the second portion of the digital assets from the first digital asset account to the public custodian wallet for temporary storage; and

transfer, via the second dedicated interface, the second portion of the digital assets to the external public wallet associated with the first entity computer, the second dedicated interface configured to communicate with the public ledger only for a duration of the transfer.

3. The private custodian system of claim 1 , wherein the digital assets comprise one or more crypto assets.

4. The private custodian system of claim 3 , wherein the one or more crypto assets include one or more crypto asset futures contracts.

5. The private custodian system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one transaction parameter comprises an expiration of the one or more crypto asset futures contracts.

6. A method for secure digital asset transactions, the method comprising:

receiving, by a custodian computer of a private custodian system, a request to trade digital assets from a first entity computer via a first dedicated interface coupled to a first communications network, the custodian computer configured to communicate with the first entity computer via the first dedicated interface and communicate with a public ledger via a second dedicated interface coupled to a second communications network;

determining, by the custodian computer, that the first entity computer is not a registered member of the private custodian system;

creating, by the custodian computer, a first digital asset account associated with the first entity computer, the first digital asset account stored in a storage device within the custodian computer that is inaccessible by the first communications network and the second communications network;

transferring, by the custodian computer, the digital assets from an external public wallet associated with the first entity computer on the public ledger to a public custodian wallet within the private custodian system for temporary storage via the second dedicated interface coupled to the second communications network, the second dedicated interface configured to communicate with the public ledger only for a duration of the transferring;

transferring, by the custodian computer, the digital assets from the public custodian wallet to the first digital asset account for secure offline storage;

transferring, by the custodian computer, a title of the digital assets to a custodian entity associated with the custodian computer and designating a first entity associated with the first entity computer as an owner of the digital assets;

updating, by the custodian computer, a private centralized ledger to include the transferred title and a designation of ownership of the digital assets, the private centralized ledger comprising a repository within the private custodian system that is accessible by the custodian computer but inaccessible by the first communications network and the second communications network;

updating, by the custodian computer, the public ledger to record the transferred title of the digital assets via the second dedicated interface, the second dedicated interface configured to communicate with the public ledger only for a duration of the updating;

receiving, by the custodian computer, transaction data from the first entity computer via the first dedicated interface, the transaction data being associated with the digital assets;

monitoring, by the custodian computer, at least one transaction parameter associated with the received transaction data;

generating, by the custodian computer, a transfer instruction that remains within the private custodian system and isolated from the public ledger, the transfer instruction indicating a transfer of a first portion of the digital assets from the first digital asset account to a second digital asset account associated with a second entity computer, the second digital asset account stored in the storage device;

updating by the custodian computer, the private centralized ledger, responsive to the transfer instruction, without communication to the public ledger, to indicate the transfer of the first portion of the digital assets; and

transferring by the custodian computer, the first portion of the digital assets between the first digital asset account and the second digital asset account responsive to the transfer instruction.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store computer-readable instructions executable by at least one processor of one or more computers representing a custodian computer of a private custodian system, the computer-readable instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to:

receive, via a first dedicated interface coupled to a first communications network, a request to trade digital assets from a first entity computer, the custodian computer configured to communicate with the first entity computer via the first dedicated interface and communicate with a public ledger via a second dedicated interface coupled to a second communications network;

determine that the first entity computer is not a registered member of the private custodian system;

create a first digital asset account associated with the first entity computer, the first digital asset account stored in a storage device within the custodian computer that is inaccessible by the first communications network and the second communications network;

transfer, via the second dedicated interface coupled to the second communications network, the digital assets from an external public wallet associated with the first entity computer and stored on the public ledger to a public custodian wallet within the private custodian system for temporary storage, the second dedicated interface configured to communicate with the public ledger only for a duration of the transfer;

transfer the digital assets from the public custodian wallet to the first digital asset account for secure offline storage;

transfer a title of the digital assets to a custodian entity associated with the custodian computer and designating a first entity associated with the first entity computer as an owner of the digital assets;

update a private centralized ledger to include the transferred title and a designation of ownership of the digital assets, the private centralized ledger comprising a repository within the private custodian system that is accessible by the custodian computer but inaccessible by the first communications network and the second communications network;

update, via the second dedicated interface, the public ledger to record the transferred title of the digital assets, the second dedicated interface configured to communicate with the public ledger only for a duration of the update;

receive transaction data from the first entity computer via the first dedicated interface, the transaction data being associated with the digital assets;

monitor at least one transaction parameter associated with the received transaction data;

generate a transfer instruction that remains within the private custodian system and isolated from the public ledger, the transfer instruction indicating a transfer of a first portion of the digital assets from the first digital asset account to a second digital asset account associated with a second entity computer, the second digital asset account stored in the storage device;

update the private centralized ledger, responsive to the transfer instruction, without communication to the public ledger, to indicate the transfer of the first portion of the digital assets; and

transfer the first portion of the digital assets between the first digital asset account and the second digital asset account responsive to the transfer instruction.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the digital assets comprise one or more crypto assets.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more crypto assets include one or more crypto asset futures contracts.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one transaction parameter comprises an expiration of the one or more crypto asset futures contracts.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the digital assets comprise one or more crypto assets.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the one or more crypto assets include one or more crypto asset futures contracts.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12 , wherein the at least one transaction parameter comprises an expiration of the one or more crypto asset futures contracts.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jul 31, 2025
From: INTERCONTINENTAL EXCHANGE HOLDINGS, INC.
To: BAKKT OPCO HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 072326/0689 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 17, 2024
From: BAKKT OPCO HOLDINGS, LLC
To: INTERCONTINENTAL EXCHANGE HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 069205/0540 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2019
From: CUMMINGS, RAYMOND JAMES; SCHEINBERG, LARRY; SAGAR, YAMINI; ALBERT, JOSEPH W.; KAPANI, MAYUR; VICE, CHARLES
To: INTERCONTINENTAL EXCHANGE HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 048632/0940 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62632754 · Feb 20, 2018
Related Publication 20190180273A1 · Jun 13, 2019