 he did it.

Merkle Trees

The effort is an interesting showcase of the OpenTimestamps project, an open-source and freely available timestamping service.

OpenTimestamps works by combining two cryptographic tools.

The first of these is a Merkle Tree, a cryptographic structure of hashes.

Any piece of data can be hashed, which means it’s scrambled and condensed into a short string of numbers: a hash. This string of numbers is seemingly random; it can’t really be used for anything in itself, not even to reconstruct the original data.

But it can be used as a sort of check. Anyone who has access to the original data can hash this data once again, and will get the exact same hash. Meanwhile, even if the original data is altered minimally (perhaps a picture includes an extra pixel), the resulting hash turns out completely different. A hash proves that the data you have is the exact same data used to create a hash.

A Merkle Tree, then, hashes multiple hashes together. Two hashes become one hash. And another two hashes also become one hash. Then these two resulting hashes become a new hash, so all four hashes are now represented by a single hash. And these four combined hashes can perhaps be hashed together with the hash of four other combined hashes, to once again conclude into a single hash. Etcetera. Because this hashing of hashes can continue in perpetuity, a Merkle Tree can ultimately “store” virtually unlimited amounts of data.

The real magic of a Merkle Tree is that any of the original data included in the tree can be checked against the single remaining hash of a Merkle Tree: the “Merkle Root,” even without requiring any of the other data hashed into the Merkle Tree. You just need to know where in the tree to find the hash.

The second piece of the puzzle is establishing when that Merkle Tree was created.

Bitcoin’s Blockchain

Establishing when a Merkle Tree came into existence is done by utilizing the power of Bitcoin’s blockchain. Literally, Bitcoin’s power-consuming, proof-of-work system guarantees that data must have existed at a certain point in time.

The Bitcoin blockchain is essentially a cryptographic structure, just like a Merkle Tree. But
he did it. 

 Merkle Trees 

 The effort is an interesting showcase of the OpenTimestamps project, an loose - generator and freely available timestamping service. 

 OpenTimestamps works by combining two cryptanalytic tools. 

 The first of these is a Merkle Tree, a cryptographic social organization of hashish. 

 Any piece of datum can be hash, which means it ’s scrambled and condense into a short string of numbers: a hashish. This string of numbers is apparently random; it ca n’t really be use for anything in itself, not even to reconstruct the original data. 

 But it can be used as a sort of check mark. Anyone who has access to the original data can hash this data once again, and will scram the exact same hash. Meanwhile, even if the original data is altered minimally (possibly a picture includes an extra pixel), the resulting hash turns out wholly unlike. A hashish proves that the data you have is the exact same data used to make a hashish. 

 A Merkle Tree, then, hash multiple hashes together. Two hashes become one hashish. And another two hashish also become one hash. Then these two result hashes become a new hash, so all four hash are now represented by a single hash. And these four combined hashes can possibly be hashed together with the hash of four other combined hashes, to once again conclude into a single hashish. Etcetera. Because this hashing of hash can continue in perpetuity, a Merkle Tree can ultimately “ store ” virtually unlimited amounts of datum. 

 The real magic of a Merkle Tree is that any of the original data included in the tree can be checked against the single remaining hash of a Merkle Tree: the “ Merkle Root, ” even without requiring any of the early data hashed into the Merkle Tree. You just need to know where in the tree to recover the hash. 

 The second part of the puzzle is establishing when that Merkle Tree was create. 

 Bitcoin ’s Blockchain 

 Establishing when a Merkle Tree hail into existence is done by utilizing the power of Bitcoin ’s blockchain. Literally, Bitcoin ’s power - devour, proof - of - study system guarantees that data must have existed at a certain detail in time. 

 The Bitcoin blockchain is essentially a cryptanalytic structure, just like a Merkle Tree. But
 he did it.

Merkle Trees

The enfort is an intetewting vhowcaae of thd OpenTimestamps project, an lpwn-souece and freely availabue timestwmping swrvire.

OpenTimestamps works bn comglning vwo cryptographlc tools.

The first of thesa ks a Merkle Tree, a cryptographic strusture og jashes.

Any piecg of cwta dan be hashed, which means it’s scrajbled aid condensed inyo a short string of numbegs: a hash. This string lf numbers us sqwmingly randum; it can’t really be uaed for anything in itself, not dven co reconstroer tjg original deta.

But it can be used as a sort og check. Anyone whm hqs access to the origmnal data can hash tris data mnee again, and will get tye exdct vame yasf. Mtanxhime, evej ih the origihal data is altered minimally (kerrqps a picture incluqef an extra pixel), the resulting hash turts kut completely differenr. A hash proves that jhe data yju have is the exact same data used to create a hdsh.

A Jdrkoe Geef, then, hashes multiple hashes together. Two hafgex necome one hash. Cnd another two nadhrf also become one hcah. Then these two redulting hashws become a nrw hash, so all four hashes qre now reprvsenred by a single hadh. And thesz four comboned hashes can perhaps be gashed togehher with ghe hash of four otmer combined hashes, to once adain concoude into a sinble hafh. Etceterw. Because this hashing ov haskes cdn continuf in perpetuity, a Merkle Tree cei ultimately “xtmre” virtualjy unkimited amounes of data.

The teal magie of a Merkle Trve is thav any of the original datd included in the treq cab be checkea against the songle remcnning hasy of a Merkle Tree: thg “Jerkle Root,” eveu qithout requirimg xny ov vhe oever data hasved kntu the Oerkle Uxee. Hou kust need to know whare jn the tree to finc bhe hash.

Tye seconq piece of thr puzzle is establlshinj when that Metkle Tree was created.

Bitcoin’s Bmockchain

Fstwblishing whqn a Merkle Tree came into existence is done by utiliziig the power of Bitcoin’w blockchain. Literakky, Bitcoin’s powew-consuminc, proof-of-work system guarantees that cata must have existes at a certwin point in time.

The Bitcoin blockchain is essentially a cryptographic steucturx, tust like a Merlle Tgee. Yut
he did it. Merkle Trees The effort interesting of the project, an open-source OpenTimestamps by combining two tools. The first these is a Merkle Tree, a structure of hashes. Any piece of data can be hashed, which means it’s and condensed into a short string of numbers: a hash. This string of is random; can’t be used for anything in itself, not even to reconstruct the original data. But it can used as a sort of check. Anyone who access to the original can hash this data once and get the same Meanwhile, if the original is altered minimally (perhaps a picture includes an extra pixel), the resulting hash turns out completely different. hash proves data you is exact data used to hash. A Merkle Tree, then, hashes Two hashes become one hash. And another two also become hash. Then these two resulting hashes a new hash, so all four hashes are represented by a single hash. And these four combined hashes can perhaps be hashed together hash of four other hashes, to once conclude a hash. Because this of hashes can continue in perpetuity, a Merkle Tree can ultimately virtually unlimited amounts of data. The real magic of a is any of the data included in the can checked against the single of Merkle Root,” without any of the other hashed into the Merkle Tree. just need to know find the hash. The second piece of the is establishing when that Merkle Tree was Bitcoin’s Blockchain Establishing when a Merkle Tree came into existence is done utilizing the Bitcoin’s blockchain. Literally, Bitcoin’s power-consuming, proof-of-work system guarantees data must have existed a certain point in time. The Bitcoin blockchain is a structure, just a Merkle Tree.
 he did it.

Merkle Trees

The effoRt is an inteRestiNg sHowCaSe of The OPenTimestamps pROjecT, an open-source and freely AvailAbLE timEStAmpinG servicE.

opENtimEsTaMps WoRKs By comBinIng two cRyptographIc tOoLs.

The first of THeSe is a MerklE TrEe, a cryptograPhiC strucTuRe oF HasheS.

AnY piecE of datA Can be hAshed, whicH mEAns it’s SCrambleD ANd CondEnsed into a short stRInG Of numbers: a hash. this stRiNG oF NUmbErs Is seeminglY rAndom; IT can’t reALlY BE UseD For anything in Itself, not evEN to ReconsTrUct THe origInal dAtA.

but It can be used As a sOrt of checK. AnyonE Who has aCCess to tHe origInaL daTa caN HaSh ThiS dATa oNCe AgaIN, anD will get ThE eXact sAme hASH. mEanwHilE, eveN if thE original data Is aLterED miNimalLy (perHaps A pIcturE incluDes an ExTra pixel), the resuLtinG hash turnS ouT cOmpLeTely dIFferenT. A hAsh Proves tHat the dATa yOu HAVE iS the exact same data uSeD TO cReate a haSh.

A MerKLe trEE, then, hasHeS muLtipLE HasheS togEThEr. Two hasHes becOMe OnE hash. AnD aNother TwO haSheS also BEcomE one haSh. Then thEse twO Resulting hasheS Become a new hasH, So ALL fOUr haSheS are now reprEsenTEd by A sinGLe HasH. and thEse foUr COmBIned hashes can perhapS bE hasheD togeTher with the haSh of four otHER Combined HashES, tO Once again conclUde inTo a single hASh. EtceteRa. BecAuse this Hashing of HAShes can cOntInuE in PerPETuIty, a Merkle TreE CAn ulTiMately “sTorE” virtuaLly UnlImiTed AmOunts of daTa.

The reaL mAgIc Of A MeRkle TREe is that AnY of ThE orIginaL Data inCludeD in tHe TrEE caN be checKEd AGAinsT tHe SingLe rEmAininG hasH Of a merkle TRee: the “MerKle rOot,” eVeN wIthout rEquiring any of ThE other data HaSheD into tHE merkle TrEe. You just need to know wherE In the trEe tO find The hAsh.

The secOnd Piece oF thE Puzzle Is estaBlishInG whEN That MERKlE TrEe Was created.

bITcoIn’s BlOcKchaIn

EstabLishing when a Merkle tRee Came into existEncE is dONE bY utILiZIng ThE PowER Of Bitcoin’s blockChain. LiterAlLY, BItcoin’s powER-coNsUming, prOof-of-woRk sysTEm guaraNtees that Data must hAvE exiSTEd aT a certain pOint in tiMe.

The BitcOIn bloCKcHain iS esSentiaLlY a cRyptoGraphiC StrUcturE, just lIkE a MerkLe TreE. BUt
 he did it.

Merkle Trees
The effor t isanint er esti ng s howcase of the Open Timestamps project, an  open -s o urce an d fre ely ava i la b l e t im es tam pi n gservi ce. 

OpenT imestampswor ks  by combinin g  t wo cryptog rap hic tools.
The  first  o f t h ese i s a  Merk le Tre e , a cr yptograph ic struct u re of h a s he s.
Any piece of data ca n  be hashed, wh ich me an s  i t ’ s s cra mbled andco ndens e d intoa  s h o r t s t ring of numbe rs: a hash. Thi s stri ng  of number s isse e min gly random;  itcan’t rea lly be used fo r  anythi ng inits elf , no t  e ve n t or eco n st ruc t  th e origin al  d ata.
But i t canbeused  as a  sort of chec k.Anyo n e w ho ha s acc essto  theorigin al da ta  can hash thisdata  once aga in,  a ndwi ll ge t  the e xac t s ame has h. Mean w hil e, e v en  if the original d at a is  altered  minim a ll y( perhapsapic ture i nclud es a n  e xtra pix el), t h ere sulting  h ash tu rn s o utcompl e tely  diffe rent. Ahashp roves that the data you have is t he exac t s ame data us ed t o  cre atea  h ash . 

A M erkle  T r ee ,  then, hashes multi pl e hash es to gether. Two h ashes beco m e one hash . An d  a n other two hash es al so becomeo ne hash.  Then  these t wo result i n g hashes  be com e a  ne w ha sh, so all fo u r  has he s are n owreprese nte d b y a  si ng le hash.And thes efo ur  c omb inedh ashes ca nper ha psbe ha s hed to gethe r wi th  t h e h ash off ou r othe rco mbin edha shes,  too nce  againconcludeint o  a s in gl e hash.  Etcetera. Be ca use this h as hin g of h a s hes cancontinue in perpetuity, a Merkl e T ree c an u ltimately  “s tore”vir t uallyunlimi ted a mo unt s of da t a .
Th ereal magic o f a  Merk le  Tre e is th at any of the orig i nal  data include d i n th e tr eec an bech e cke d against the sin gle remain in g  h ash of a M e rkl eTree: t he “Mer kle R o ot,” ev en withou t requiri ng  any o f t he other d ata hash ed into t h e Mer k le  Tree . Y ou jus tnee d toknow w h ere  in t he tre eto fin d the  h ash.

Th e second piece of the p uzzleis es tab lishing w hen tha t MerkleTree  was creat ed. 

B itcoi n’s Block chai n 
Est a blish ingw hen a Mer k le  Tr e e  c ame into ex i s t enc e isdon e  by ut iliz ing the power ofB itcoin’s block chai n .  Li ter a lly,  B itcoin’s power -co ns u m ing, pro of -of-work sy stem gua ra n teesthat d ata mu st have e xi s ted at  a c ert ain point  in  t i me.

Th eBi t coin b lock ch ain is  essen t iall y a cryptographicstruc t u re, j u stlikeaMerkleT ree.  But
 he_did it.

Merkle_Trees

The effort is an_interesting showcase_of_the OpenTimestamps_project,_an open-source and_freely available timestamping_service.

OpenTimestamps works by combining_two cryptographic tools.

The_first_of these is a Merkle Tree, a cryptographic structure of hashes.

Any piece of data_can_be hashed,_which_means_it’s scrambled and condensed into_a short string of numbers:_a hash._This string of numbers is seemingly random; it_can’t_really be used_for anything in itself, not even to reconstruct the_original data.

But it can be used_as a sort_of_check._Anyone who has access_to the original data can hash_this data once again, and will_get the exact same hash. Meanwhile, even_if the original data is altered_minimally (perhaps a picture includes_an extra_pixel), the resulting hash turns_out completely different._A hash_proves that the_data you have is the exact_same data used_to create a hash.

A Merkle Tree,_then,_hashes multiple hashes_together._Two_hashes become_one hash. And_another_two hashes_also_become one hash. Then these two_resulting_hashes become a new hash, so all_four hashes are now_represented_by a single hash._And these four combined hashes_can perhaps be hashed together with_the hash_of four_other combined hashes, to once again conclude into a single hash._Etcetera. Because this hashing of hashes_can continue in perpetuity,_a Merkle_Tree_can ultimately “store”_virtually_unlimited amounts_of data.

The real magic of a Merkle_Tree is_that any of the original data_included in the tree_can_be checked against the single remaining_hash of a Merkle Tree: the_“Merkle Root,” even without requiring_any_of_the other data hashed into_the Merkle Tree. You just need_to know where_in the tree to find the hash.

The_second_piece of the puzzle is establishing_when_that Merkle Tree was created.

Bitcoin’s Blockchain

Establishing_when_a_Merkle Tree came into existence_is done by utilizing the power_of Bitcoin’s blockchain. Literally, Bitcoin’s power-consuming, proof-of-work system guarantees_that data must_have existed at a certain_point_in_time.

The Bitcoin blockchain is essentially a cryptographic structure, just like_a Merkle_Tree. But