IP Library Granted Patent US 12,531,743
Granted Patent B2
US 12,531,743 · App. 17/280,758 · Granted Jan 20, 2026

Computer-implemented system and method for transferring access to digital resource

Inventors: Owen Vaughan (London, GB); Craig Steven Wright (London, GB)
Assignee: NCHAIN LICENSING AG
H04L9/3239H04L9/14H04L9/3073H04L9/3247H04L9/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,531,743
App. No.
17/280,758
Granted
Jan 20, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer-implemented method for transferring access to, or control of, a resource is provided. The method comprises the steps of providing a blockchain transaction redeemable to transfer control of a resource by providing a data item (S 1 ) to the first blockchain transaction, wherein the data item is determinable only by a controller of both a revealable value (s) and a secret value (k 0 ), and providing the revealable value to a controller of the secret value to enable said controller to determine the data item. The method may be carried out using the Bitcoin blockchain, or using a combination of different blockchains.

Claims (25)

1 . A computer-implemented method, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a first signature comprising a first component and a second component from a data item and a first secret value, wherein the data item is a first private key of a first cryptographic key pair and is determinable only by a controller of at least the second component and the first secret value, and the first secret value is an ephemeral key used to generate the signature;

providing a first blockchain transaction redeemable to enable access to a first resource by providing at least the first signature to the first blockchain transaction, wherein the first blockchain transaction further requires providing a second signature to be redeemable, and a second cryptographic key pair is associated with an intended recipient of the first resource; and

providing the second component to a controller of the secret value to enable the controller to determine the data item, by:

providing a second blockchain transaction redeemable to enable access to a second resource by providing at least the second component of the first signature to the second blockchain transaction, wherein redemption of the second blockchain transaction causes the second component to be provided to the controller, and

redeeming the second blockchain transaction.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

generating the second signature comprising a third component and a fourth component from a second private key of the second cryptographic key pair and a second secret value; and

providing the second component to the controller.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the data item comprises a deterministic private key of a deterministic cryptographic key pair, wherein a deterministic public key of the deterministic cryptographic key pair is derived using a first public key of the first cryptographic key pair and a second public key of the second cryptographic key pair.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein redemption of the first or second blockchain transaction comprises comparing a value stored in the first blockchain transaction to at least a portion of the first signature.

5 . A system, comprising:

a processor; and

memory including executable instructions that, as a result of execution by the processor, causes the system to:

generate a first signature comprising a first component and a second component from a data item and a first secret value, wherein the data item is a first private key of a first cryptographic key pair and is determinable only by a controller of at least the second component and the first secret value, and the first secret value is an ephemeral key used to generate the signature;

provide a first blockchain transaction redeemable to enable access to a first resource by providing at least the first signature to the first blockchain transaction, wherein the first blockchain transaction further requires providing a second signature to be redeemable, and a second cryptographic key pair is associated with an intended recipient of the first resource; and

provide the second component to a controller of the secret value to enable the controller to determine the data item, by:

providing a second blockchain transaction redeemable to enable access to a second resource by providing at least the second component of the first signature to the second blockchain transaction, wherein redemption of the second blockchain transaction causes the second component to be provided to the controller, and

redeeming the second blockchain transaction.

6 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon executable instructions that, as a result of being executed by a processor of a computer system, cause the computer system to:

generate a first signature comprising a first component and a second component from a data item and a first secret value, wherein the data item is a first private key of a first cryptographic key pair and is determinable only by a controller of at least the second component and the first secret value, and the first secret value is an ephemeral key used to generate the signature;

provide a first blockchain transaction redeemable to enable access to a first resource by providing at least the first signature to the first blockchain transaction, wherein the first blockchain transaction further requires providing a second signature to be redeemable, and a second cryptographic key pair is associated with an intended recipient of the first resource; and

provide the second component to a controller of the secret value to enable the controller to determine the data item, by:

providing a second blockchain transaction redeemable to enable access to a second resource by providing at least the second component of the first signature to the second blockchain transaction, wherein redemption of the second blockchain transaction causes the second component to be provided to the controller, and

redeeming the second blockchain transaction.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 3, 2025
From: NCHAIN HOLDINGS AG
To: NCHAIN LICENSING AG
Reel/Frame 070096/0502 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 7, 2023
From: NCHAIN HOLDINGS LTD
To: NCHAIN LICENSING AG
Reel/Frame 063560/0417 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2022
From: WRIGHT, CRAIG STEVEN
To: NCHAIN HOLDINGS LTD.
Reel/Frame 059905/0682 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 6, 2021
From: VAUGHAN, OWEN
To: NCHAIN HOLDINGS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 058038/0757 →
Priority Claims (1)
GB 1815816 · Sep 28, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210344500A1 · Nov 4, 2021
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