Accenture has created a prototype of a new capability that enables blockchain technology to be edited under extraordinary circumstances to resolve human errors, accommodate legal and regulatory requirements, and address mischief and other issues, while preserving key cryptographic features. The prototype represents a significant breakthrough for enterprise uses of blockchain technology particularly in banking, insurance and capital markets.
The invention is designed for “permissioned” blockchain systems, which are managed by designated administrators under agreed governance rules. The invention is not designed for “permissionless” systems, like the cryptocurrency system supporting Bitcoin, which is open and decentralised and where the absence of a single governing authority makes absolutely permanent, or “immutable,” recordkeeping vital.
“As we focus on new uses for blockchain technology beyond the realm of cryptocurrency, absolute immutability will become both a virtue and a vice,” said Richard Lumb, group chief executive – Financial Services at Accenture. “For decentralised cryptocurrency systems, such permanent accounting has been crucial in building trust and faith among participants. But for financial services institutions faced with a myriad of risk and regulatory requirements, absolute immutability is a potential roadblock. Our invention strikes a balance for enterprise use that preserves the fundamental value of the technology while enabling enterprise adoption.”
How the Editable Blockchain Works
The invention provides an alternative to existing blockchain technology. Blockchains are immutable to users of the system but, when necessary, designated administrators acting on agreed rules of governance can edit, rewrite or remove blocks of information without breaking the chain. It does this by using a new variation of what is known as the “chameleon” hash function, which can recreate algorithms that link two separate blocks through the use of secure private keys.
The invention also offers a capability where any edit made to a block leaves an immutable “scar” to indicate that the block was altered. Accenture and co-developer Dr. Giuseppe Ateniese have filed patent applications for the invention in the United States (US 15/253,997) and the European Union (EP 164 250 86.2).
Real-World Demand
The need for redaction capabilities in permissioned blockchain systems recently surfaced when tens of millions of dollars were reported stolen from another digital currency system due to coding problems in a ‘smart contract’ – a software program that resides on blockchains and automatically executes transactions when pre-agreed events take place.
“As blockchain solutions gain momentum in financial services and other industries, more and more real-world situations will emerge where information on blockchains simply needs to be modified or removed,” said David Treat, managing director of Accenture’s capital markets blockchain practice.
“Our solution makes it possible to deal with situations in a predictable fashion when things go wrong and to meet new and changing regulatory and legal requirements, like the ‘right to be forgotten’ and other data-privacy and retention rules. An editable form of blockchain will make the technology more practical and useful for enterprise systems and accelerate its adoption. It combines the confidence that comes from immutability with the pragmatism required in an imperfect world.”
“The clever work of the bitcoin creators and leaps of progress in applied cryptographic research are opening the door to bold new uses of blockchain,” said Dr. Giuseppe Ateniese, a leading cryptographer and professor of computer science at The Stevens Institute of Technology. “By modifying the traditional ‘chameleon hash’ function we can preserve the strength of the original blockchain while making it even more useful. Unlike a traditional database, our solution is compatible with current blockchain frameworks and works in a decentralised and accountable environment.”