What is a hash timestamp?And how is it different from notarisation?

TimeBinder adds a layer of protection against AI and human fraud and disputes.

The file stays on your device. Your browser makes a digital fingerprint of the file. TimeBinder records the fingerprint and the time, not the file.

Short answer

A hash timestamp records a file’s cryptographic fingerprint (its hash) together with a time, so anyone can later check that an exact file existed no later than that time and has not changed. Notarisation (notarization in the US) is a notary, a person with legal authority, witnessing signatures or certifying copies, which confirms who signed.

They answer different questions. Many people use both: notarise the signing, then timestamp the signed file.

How a hash timestamp works

Your browser makes a fingerprint. A SHA-256 hash is a 64-character code worked out from every byte of the file. Change one byte and the code changes completely. The file stays on your device.
The fingerprint is recorded with a time. TimeBinder anchors it to the Bitcoin blockchain, a public record no single party controls.
You receive a Proof of Time Certificate. It is a PDF with a QR code and the Bitcoin transaction ID.
Anyone can check later. Re-hashing the file and comparing it with the record shows whether it still matches. A file that does not match is a different file.

Other hash timestamps exist. An RFC 3161 time-stamp is a signed token from a time-stamping authority. See RFC 3161 vs blockchain timestamps. For the underlying idea, see what is proof of existence?

Hash timestamp vs notarisation

In many European countries a notary does more than witness signatures, for example drawing up authentic deeds for property, which carry special legal status. A timestamp is not a substitute for that.

Hash timestamp vs notarisation at a glance
	Hash timestamp (TimeBinder)	Notarisation
What it confirms	That an exact file existed no later than a recorded time and still matches its fingerprint.	Who signed, or that a copy matches an original shown to the notary.
Who sees the document	The file stays on your device; only the fingerprint is recorded.	The notary sees the document.
How you do it	Online, in a few minutes.	Usually an appointment, in person or by approved remote methods where allowed.
How it is checked later	Re-hash the file and compare with the record.	Rely on the notary’s seal, signature and records.
Needed by law?	No.	Sometimes, for example for certain deeds, affidavits or documents used overseas.
Does not show	Who made the file, or that its contents are true.	That the contents are true, or when a digital file was created.

What a TimeBind shows, and what it does not

It shows that this exact file existed no later than the recorded time, and that a copy shown later still matches its fingerprint.
It does not show who made the file, who owns it, that its contents are true, or whether AI was used to make or edit it.
It does not replace legal advice, a notary where one is required, or a court’s own view of the evidence.

Make a TimeBind: first one free →

First Pooled TimeBind free, no card, then from US$5. An ASAP TimeBind is US$15.

Frequently asked questions

Is a hash timestamp the same as a digital signature?

No. A digital signature ties a document to a signer’s key. A hash timestamp ties an exact file to a time. They can be used together. See timestamp vs electronic signature.

Does a hash timestamp reveal my file?

No. A hash cannot be turned back into the file, and the file stays on your device. Only the fingerprint is recorded.

Does a hash timestamp replace a notary?

No. If a document must be witnessed, notarised or apostilled, you still need that. A timestamp adds a checkable record of when an exact file existed.

Can a notary show when a digital file was created?

Not directly. A notary can witness a signing or certify a copy against an original shown on the day. They do not check a digital file’s contents byte for byte later on.

Is a hash timestamp accepted in court?

It depends on the court, the rules and the case, and a timestamp is not a promise of admissibility. It is a supporting record of timing and integrity. A lawyer can advise on your own case.

How much does a TimeBind cost?

Your first Pooled TimeBind is free with no card, then from US$5. An ASAP TimeBind is US$15.

Related guides and tools

Your file’s fingerprint, anchored to a global network secured by real electricity and cryptography.

Editing a file—including with AI—changes its fingerprint, not its existing network record.

How this works

Your file’s SHA-256 fingerprint, a short code worked out from its exact contents, is made in your browser, and the file itself stays on your device. A cryptographic commitment to that fingerprint, which may be combined with others, is then anchored in a block on the Bitcoin blockchain. Bitcoin is secured by proof of work: computers around the world spend real electricity to add each block, and changing an earlier block would mean redoing that work faster than the rest of the network. Until that block is confirmed, your proof is pending. Once the Bitcoin anchoring is confirmed, you can verify the proof against that recorded commitment. The confirmed record can then be checked; Pooled TimeBinds are checked through TimeBinder, while ASAP TimeBinds can also be checked independently. If you check the file later and its fingerprint still matches, that shows the file existed no later than the recorded time. The record doesn’t show who made the file, whether AI was used, or that its contents are true.

Your filestays on your device
FingerprintSHA-256
Network timestampon Bitcoin

Try a hash timestamp free

Add a layer of protection against AI and human fraud and disputes: a dated, checkable record of the exact file you hold.

Open the app and sign in with email or Google.
Add your files. They stay on your computer.
Seal them and download your Proof of Time certificates.

Open TimeBinder →

First Pooled TimeBind free, no card, then from US$5. See pricing.