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OpenTimestamps is an open-source protocol designed by Peter Todd for creating Bitcoin-anchored timestamps. It is the most widely used timestamping standard in the blockchain ecosystem.

How Merkle Trees Make It Efficient: Instead of creating a separate Bitcoin transaction for every timestamp (which would be expensive), OpenTimestamps aggregates thousands of hashes into a binary Merkle tree. Only the root of the tree is included in a single Bitcoin transaction. Each individual timestamp can still be independently verified by tracing its path through the tree to the root.

Why ProofChain Uses It: OpenTimestamps is an open standard — not proprietary technology controlled by ProofChain. This means your timestamps can be verified by anyone, using any OpenTimestamps-compatible tool, without depending on ProofChain to continue operating. Your proof exists independently of our platform.

SHA-256 (Secure Hash Algorithm 256-bit) is a cryptographic hash function that takes any input and produces a fixed-length, 64-character hexadecimal output. It is the same algorithm that secures the Bitcoin blockchain itself.

Key Properties

• Deterministic: The same file always produces the exact same hash. Running it a million times yields identical results.
• One-way: You cannot reconstruct the original file from its hash. The hash reveals nothing about the file's content.
• Collision-resistant: It is computationally infeasible to find two different files that produce the same hash. The probability is roughly 1 in 2^256.
• Avalanche effect: Changing even a single character in the input produces a completely different hash. There is no way to make a "small change" to a hash.

The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA) replaced the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 as India's primary evidence law. It came into effect on 1 July 2024 and modernizes how Indian courts handle electronic evidence.

Section 63 of BSA 2023 — Electronic Records

Section 63 of BSA 2023 is the successor to the well-known Section 65B of the old Indian Evidence Act. It governs the admissibility of electronic records produced by computer systems. For electronic evidence to be admissible, it must be accompanied by a certificate (under Section 63(4)) that identifies the electronic record, describes the device or system that produced it, and confirms the record was produced during the normal operation of the device.

Section 85B of BSA 2023 — Electronic Signatures & Timestamps

Section 85B of BSA 2023 deals with the presumption as to electronic signatures and electronic records. This is particularly relevant to Time Stamping Authority (TSA) certificates — when a TSA issues a cryptographically signed token confirming the time of a document's submission, Section 85B provides the legal presumption that such a signed record is authentic unless proven otherwise.

How ProofChain Certificates Comply

• The certificate identifies the electronic record via its unique SHA-256 hash, satisfying Section 63 identification requirements
• It records the exact timestamp of when the hash was created and blockchain-confirmed, with TSA token providing institutional proof
• It includes the Bitcoin block number, transaction proof, and RFC 3161 TSA token for independent verification
• A unique certificate ID and QR code allow instant online verification

ProofChain uses two independent timestamping systems for maximum legal credibility. Each system provides a different kind of guarantee, and together they offer the strongest possible evidence of when your file existed.

Your file hash is aggregated into a Merkle tree and anchored to a Bitcoin transaction. This provides decentralized, permanent, independently verifiable proof. No single entity can alter or erase it.

• Decentralized — maintained by thousands of nodes worldwide
• Permanent and immutable — cannot be altered once confirmed
• Independently verifiable by anyone using open-source tools
• Confirmation time: 1-24 hours (depends on Bitcoin block confirmation)

Your file hash is also submitted to a certified Time Stamping Authority following the RFC 3161 international standard. The TSA returns a cryptographically signed token proving the exact time of submission. This provides instant, institutionally recognized proof.

• Instant — cryptographic token issued within seconds
• Recognized by courts and organizations worldwide
• Relevant to Section 85B of BSA 2023 (electronic signatures)
• Based on international RFC 3161 standard used by governments and enterprises

Bitcoin gives you decentralization — no trust in any single authority is needed. TSA gives you institutional recognition — recognized by courts and organizations worldwide. Together, they provide the strongest possible evidence of when your file existed.

Both the TSA token and the blockchain proof are included in your ProofChain protection certificate, giving you two independent, tamper-proof layers of evidence.