Proxae is a service that allows users to certify the existence of their ideas, texts, or files by timestamping them on the Bitcoin blockchain. This process provides immutable proof of prior existence, ensuring that you can demonstrate you had a specific piece of content at a particular time. The core principle behind Proxae is leveraging Bitcoin's tamper-proof global ledger, not for financial transactions, but as an unalterable record for data fingerprints.
The certification process is designed for privacy and security. When you upload a file or input text, Proxae calculates a unique cryptographic fingerprint (SHA-256 hash) directly within your browser. This means your actual content never leaves your device; only this anonymized fingerprint is transmitted and anchored into the Bitcoin blockchain using OpenTimestamps technology. This method ensures that your intellectual property remains private while still providing verifiable proof.
Key features of Proxae include:
- Private Content: Only the cryptographic fingerprint of your data is transmitted, safeguarding your original content.
- Bitcoin-Anchored: Your proof is embedded in the Bitcoin blockchain, making it unfalsifiable and highly secure.
- Permanent and Verifiable: Once anchored, the proof is permanent and can be verified independently, even without Proxae, using standard blockchain explorers and OpenTimestamps tools.
- Multiple Content Types: Certify files (up to 50 MB, all types like PDF, DOCX, TXT, JPG, PNG, ZIP, MP3, MP4), web pages (requires account), or plain text.
- Free and Unlimited: Timestamping files and text is free and does not require an account, offering accessible proof of existence. Web page capture is a premium feature requiring an account.
Proxae serves a wide range of use cases, including:
- Idea Prior Art: Establish proof of concept for inventions, designs, or business ideas.
- Protecting Creative Work: Secure evidence of creation for literary works, music, art, or software before publishing.
- Document Timestamping: Prove the existence and integrity of contracts, reports, or any important document at a specific date.
- Source Code Protection: Timestamp software code to prove ownership and development stages.
- Freelancer Proof of Creation: Provide clients with undeniable proof of work delivery and originality.
- Proving Dispatch: Record the timestamp of sending important communications or files.
The service emphasizes that while it provides strong cryptographic proof of prior existence, it does not confer exclusive rights or replace formal legal advice or notarial acts. It's a robust, decentralized alternative for securing intellectual property timestamps.
