STEP 01
The Creator Makes Something
A painting, photograph, sculpture, collectible or handmade object.
Overall process
From creation to verification in seven simple steps
A clear record begins with information supplied by the creator and ends with a verification page that a buyer can open in seconds.
STEP 02
The Creator Registers It
They submit the photograph, title, dimensions, material, year, edition and creator information.
STEP 03
CreatorTrace Creates a Digital Fingerprint
A unique code is generated from the digital record. Think of it as a fingerprint for that specific set of information.
STEP 04
The Fingerprint Is Timestamped
The record fingerprint is submitted through OpenTimestamps and later verified against the Bitcoin blockchain. Registration is immediate; the final Certificate of Authenticity becomes available once Bitcoin confirmation is verified. The physical artwork itself is never stored on Bitcoin.
STEP 05
The Documents Are Created
The creator receives an immediate registration receipt followed by the final Bitcoin-confirmed Certificate of Authenticity containing:
- Creator and artwork title
- Artwork photograph
- Dimensions, medium and year
- Certificate ID
- Digital fingerprint
- Bitcoin block confirmation
- QR code
STEP 06
The Buyer Scans the QR Code
The QR code opens the artwork's CreatorTrace verification page, with five years of online access included.
STEP 07
The Provenance Record Is Displayed
The page shows the artwork, creator, certificate, registration date, digital fingerprint, timestamp status and verification status.
Plain-English technology
What is actually stored on the blockchain?
The artwork itself is not stored on the blockchain.
CreatorTrace creates a digital fingerprint of the registered provenance information. That fingerprint can then be timestamped using blockchain technology. This provides evidence that the record existed at a particular point in time and can help reveal later changes.
Example record
See what a buyer can verify
This prototype record demonstrates the information a future artwork verification page could display.
REGISTERED ARTWORKRegistered
Electric Tide
Alan Bannon · Acrylic on canvas
Certificate IDCT-000001
Year2023
Dimensions80 cm × 60 cm × 4 cm
Date registeredPrototype record
Digital fingerprint8F3A…9C21 (sample)
Blockchain timestampPrototype / Pending
Verification statusRecord details available