IP Library Granted Patent US 12,609,815
Granted Patent B2
US 12,609,815 · App. 17/604,391 · Granted Apr 21, 2026

Computer implemented method and system for encrypting data

Inventors: Craig Steven Wright (London, GB); Brock Gilles Doiron (London, GB)
Assignee: NCHAIN LICENSING AG
H04L9/0838H04L9/0863H04L9/14H04L9/50
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,609,815
App. No.
17/604,391
Granted
Apr 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of encrypting data is disclosed. The method comprises determining, at a first node associated with a first public-private key pair of a cryptography system having a first private key (V A ) and a first public key (P A ), a common secret (S 1 ) common with the first node and a second node, wherein the second node is associated with a second public-private key pair of the cryptography system having a second private key (V B ) and a second public key (P B ). The common secret is determined on the basis of the first private key and the second public key, and the properties of the cryptography system are such that the common secret can be determined on the basis of the second private key and the first public key. An encryption key, based on the common secret, is determined for encryption of data (M), and the data is encrypted on the basis of the encryption key, wherein the step of encrypting data includes an exclusive or (XOR) operation.

Claims (25)

1 . A method of encrypting data, the method comprising:

determining, by a first participant, an encryption key, based on a common secret common with said first participant and a second participant, for encryption of data;

encrypting said data on the basis of said encryption key to provide encrypted data, wherein the step of encrypting said data includes at least one exclusive or (XOR) operation; and

incorporating said encrypted data into a blockchain transaction, wherein the encrypted data is inserted as a spendable output of the blockchain transaction.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the encrypted data is included in publicly accessible data in the transaction.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a session key and/or password can be delived from the encrypted data by means of the common secret.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the blockchain transaction is redeemed by means of a script based on the common secret.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the transaction is redeemed by means of a script containing data based on application of a one way function to data based on the common secret.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the one way function is a hash function.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein redemption of the transaction exposes the data.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein redemption of the transaction causes the participant redeeming the transaction to be identified.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising causing said data to be encrypted by means of an encryption key based on a second common secret common to said first participant and a third participant as a result of sending encrypted data to said second participant.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

causing data to be sent to the first participant as a result of data being sent from the second participant to a third participant.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a plurality of said encryption keys by means of repeated application of a one way function to data based on said common secret.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the one way function is a hash function.

13 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein a first said encryption key used to encrypt first data is related to a second said encryption key used to encrypt second data subsequently to encryption of said first data by application of the one way function to data based on the first encryption key.

14 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the encryption is carried out by applying at least one encryption key to portions of said data.

15 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one said encryption key is a matrix.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein elements of the matrix are generated by repeated application of a one way function to data based on said common secret.

17 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein at least one said matrix is derived from the product of two matrices with linearly independent columns and rows.

18 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the encryption is carried out by repeated application of at least one said encryption key to at least one portion of said data.

19 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, at said first participant, said common secret, wherein said first participant is associated with a first public-private key pair of a cryptography system having a first private key and a first public key, wherein the second participant is associated with a second public-private key pair of the cryptography system having a second private key and a second public key, wherein the common secret is determined at the first participant on the basis of the first private key and the second public key, and wherein properties of the cryptography system are such that the common secret can be determined at the second participant on the basis of the second private key and the first public key.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 3, 2025
From: NCHAIN HOLDINGS AG
To: NCHAIN LICENSING AG
Reel/Frame 070096/0502 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2023
From: WRIGHT, CRAIG STEVEN; DOIRON, BROCK GILLES
To: NCHAIN HOLDINGS LTD.
Reel/Frame 063662/0326 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 17, 2023
From: NCHAIN HOLDINGS LTD
To: NCHAIN LICENSING AG
Reel/Frame 063348/0976 →
Priority Claims (1)
GB 1905348 · Apr 16, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250286705A1 · Sep 11, 2025
References Cited (18)
US 10050779B2 · Alness et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10129223B1 · Bhattacharyya et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20100027783A1 · Yup · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20190050541A1 · Wright · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20220209937A1 · Ragan · 2022 [cited by examiner]
JP 2005229178A · 2005 [cited by applicant]
WO 2016209939A1 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
WO 2017145021A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
WO 2018235845A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2019038634A1 · 2019 [cited by examiner]
Antonopoulos, “Mastering Bitcoin—Unlocking Digital Cryptocurrencies,” O'Reilly Media, Inc., Dec. 20, 2014, 282 pages. [cited by applicant]
Cryptorekt, “Encrypted Messaging,” https://github.com/tokenpay/tokenpay/blob/master/doc/Encrypted%20Messaging.md, Jun. 22, 2018, 4 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion mailed May 15, 2020, Patent Application No. PCT/IB2020/053218, 13 pages. [cited by applicant]
Nakamoto, “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System,” Bitcoin, Oct. 31, 2008, https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf, 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
Sastry et al., “A Modified Feistel Cipher Involving Modular Arithmetic Addition and Modular Arithmetic Inverse of a Key Matrix,” International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, 2012, 4 pages. [cited by applicant]
Satoshi et al., “Connection Limits,” Bitcoin Forum, Aug. 9, 2010, https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=741.0; prev_next=prev, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
UK IPO Search Report mailed Dec. 19, 2019, Patent Application No. GB1905348.7, 4 pages. [cited by applicant]
Cryptrec.com, “2009 List Guide”, Funding Report Related to Cryptography Technology, Mar. 2010, 29 pages. [cited by applicant]