There is a tutorial here:
https://bitcore.io/guides/i-made-this
Topic: timestamping: the basics (Read 594 times)
If you just want to timestamp a document easily, see https://www.proofofexistence.com.
If you want to do it 100% yourself, look into OP_RETURN.
Maybe there is an open source tool for this by now? anyone got a link to such a thing?
If you want to do it 100% yourself, look into OP_RETURN.
Maybe there is an open source tool for this by now? anyone got a link to such a thing?
Thanks very much for that useful info' 
Thanks
Will repost to the beginners section.
Mr Moderator, should I come back and delete this post?
Will repost to the beginners section.
Mr Moderator, should I come back and delete this post?
No need to create a new post and delete this one. You can just move this post to the correct sub-forum.
At the very bottom of the thread on the left hand side you should see a link that says "move topic".
As you've discovered, Transaction Description is just a description to yourself ro remind you what the transaction was for.
The bitcoin protocol doesn't have any space reserved specifically for storing any additional information with the transaction in the blockchain. In the actual blockchain a transaction is ONLY:
When people want to store non-transaction data in the blockchain, what they typically do is store it in one (or more) of the transaction outputs.
Perhaps one of the best ways to do this is to create a transaction using the OP_RETURN script code. Most wallets are designed for sending and receiving bitcoins, so they don't have a process for this built in to them. As such, you would have to either create the transaction by hand or write your own software to do so.
There are a few people that have already created programs to do this and made the service available via websites that they've created. Typically these websites will accept some data and some bitcoins and will then structure and broadcast the transaction for you.
The bitcoin protocol doesn't have any space reserved specifically for storing any additional information with the transaction in the blockchain. In the actual blockchain a transaction is ONLY:
- 4 bytes of version number
- 1 to 9 bytes indicating the number of inputs
- A list of the inputs that supply value to the transaction
- 1 to 9 bytes indicating the number of outputs
- A list of the outputs that encumber value with requirements that must be met in order to use that value in future inputs
- A 4 byte lock-time
When people want to store non-transaction data in the blockchain, what they typically do is store it in one (or more) of the transaction outputs.
Perhaps one of the best ways to do this is to create a transaction using the OP_RETURN script code. Most wallets are designed for sending and receiving bitcoins, so they don't have a process for this built in to them. As such, you would have to either create the transaction by hand or write your own software to do so.
There are a few people that have already created programs to do this and made the service available via websites that they've created. Typically these websites will accept some data and some bitcoins and will then structure and broadcast the transaction for you.
Thanks
Will repost to the beginners section.
Mr Moderator, should I come back and delete this post?
Will repost to the beginners section.
Mr Moderator, should I come back and delete this post?
This sounds really interesting, sorry i cant help, i think posting in the technical section might get you the response you are looking for there are some great minds in there.
Hi,
I thought I'd try timestamping a document in the Bitcoin blockchain.
I generated a hash locally on my pc, for the document I want to timestamp, and I sent a tiny amount of Bitcoin to one of my own addresses. I pasted the hash of the document into the transaction description field as I was creating the payment. I sent the payment and eventually my wallet showed it was paid.
I can see the transaction in the blockchain(blockchain.info) so I know it was created successfully, but I don't see the hash I put into the description. I don't even see a description. The only place I can see the description, which includes my hash, is in my wallet... but that, of course, is no good to me. I need to see it in the public ledger.
Perhaps I just assumed that 'transaction description' is where it should be pasted. So now I'm thinking there must be another way to embed my hash into the transaction because there is no sign of a transaction description in the blockchain transaction from this attempted timestamping exercise.
Does anyone have any idea about where/how to embed the hash so I can confirm it is there?
I thought I'd try timestamping a document in the Bitcoin blockchain.
I generated a hash locally on my pc, for the document I want to timestamp, and I sent a tiny amount of Bitcoin to one of my own addresses. I pasted the hash of the document into the transaction description field as I was creating the payment. I sent the payment and eventually my wallet showed it was paid.
I can see the transaction in the blockchain(blockchain.info) so I know it was created successfully, but I don't see the hash I put into the description. I don't even see a description. The only place I can see the description, which includes my hash, is in my wallet... but that, of course, is no good to me. I need to see it in the public ledger.
Perhaps I just assumed that 'transaction description' is where it should be pasted. So now I'm thinking there must be another way to embed my hash into the transaction because there is no sign of a transaction description in the blockchain transaction from this attempted timestamping exercise.
Does anyone have any idea about where/how to embed the hash so I can confirm it is there?
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