Understanding Blockchain Timestamps
Learn how blockchain technology creates tamper-proof proof of existence for your documents.
What is Blockchain Timestamping?
Blockchain timestamping is a way to prove that a document, file, or piece of data existed at a specific point in time — without trusting any central authority.
The Simple Analogy
Imagine mailing yourself a sealed envelope. The postmark proves the contents existed on that date. Blockchain timestamping is the digital equivalent — except the "postmark" is recorded on a public blockchain (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.), visible to everyone forever, and mathematically impossible to forge.
Cryptographic Hash
Your file is converted into a unique "fingerprint" (hash). Even a tiny change creates a completely different fingerprint.
Blockchain Anchor
The hash is anchored to a blockchain — Bitcoin, Ethereum, or other networks. These are public, immutable ledgers that cannot be altered or erased.
Verifiable Forever
Anyone can verify the timestamp independently. No account needed. No trust required. The math speaks for itself.
Bitcoin vs Ethereum
TimeAnchor supports timestamps on both Bitcoin and Ethereum-compatible chains. Each has its strengths.
Bitcoin
- •Most secure — largest proof-of-work network
- •Longest track record — running since 2009
- •OpenTimestamps protocol — free, open standard
- •Timestamps aggregated into single transactions (cost-efficient)
Best for: Maximum security and legal credibility
Ethereum & EVM Chains
- •Smart contracts — programmable timestamping
- •Faster confirmations — blocks every ~12 seconds
- •Layer 2 options — Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism
- •Direct hash embedding in transaction data
Best for: Developer workflows and smart contract integration
How It Works
Create a Hash
When you want to timestamp a document, a cryptographic hash (SHA-256) is computed. This hash is a fixed-length string that uniquely represents your file. The original file never leaves your device.
Anchor to Blockchain
The hash is submitted to a timestamping service or embedded directly in a blockchain transaction. For Bitcoin, services like OpenTimestamps aggregate many hashes and anchor them together. For Ethereum, the hash can be stored in transaction data or emitted as an event.
Receive Your Proof
You receive proof of the timestamp — either an .ots file (Bitcoin) or a transaction hash (Ethereum). This proof links your document to a specific block and time. Keep it safe — it's your evidence.
Verify Anytime
Anyone with the original file and the proof can independently verify the timestamp. No trust required — the verification is purely mathematical. That's what TimeAnchor does.
Why It Matters
Proving when something existed has real-world consequences. Blockchain timestamps provide evidence that's independent, verifiable, and permanent.
| Use Case | Why Timestamps Help |
|---|---|
| Intellectual Property | Prove you had an idea, design, or invention before anyone else — establishing prior art without filing patents. |
| Legal Evidence | Contracts, agreements, and communications can be timestamped to prove they existed in a specific form at a specific time. |
| Research & Academia | Timestamp research data, findings, or papers to establish priority and protect against plagiarism claims. |
| Creative Works | Writers, artists, and musicians can prove when they created their work — useful for copyright disputes. |
| Software & Code | Timestamp git commits, releases, or codebases to create verifiable audit trails and prove code integrity. |
| Compliance & Audit | Create immutable records for regulatory compliance, demonstrating that documents weren't altered after the fact. |
Our Products
TimeAnchor is built by Aramantos Digital to complement our timestamping products.
ProveChain
Our document timestamping service for individuals and businesses. Upload documents, get blockchain-anchored proofs, and manage your proof library.
Learn more →SignaSeal
Digital signature and document verification platform. Combines signatures with timestamps for complete document integrity.
Learn more →The Trust Problem We Solve
When you share a timestamped document with a lawyer, auditor, or counterparty, they shouldn't have to trust you or us. TimeAnchor provides independent verification — they upload their copy of the file, and we verify it against the blockchain. Three-point verification: their file, our records, the blockchain. All must match.
Technical Details
| Hash Algorithm | SHA-256 (computed client-side) |
| Supported Blockchains | Bitcoin (via OpenTimestamps), Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism |
| File Privacy | Your document never leaves your browser. Only the hash is used for verification. |
| Verification Methods | OTS calendar servers (Bitcoin), transaction input data & event logs (EVM chains) |
| Cost | Free forever. Verification is a public good. |