What is proof of existenceEvidence that a specific file existed by a certain time, usually via a fingerprint on a ledger

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

Proof of existence is evidence that a particular file existed by a certain time, without revealing its contents. Usually a cryptographic fingerprint of the file is recorded on a public ledger such as a blockchain. It does not show who made the file or who owns it.

The idea in plain terms

The idea is simple: turn a file into a fingerprint (a hash), record the fingerprint somewhere that is hard to alter and publicly checkable, and later show that the file still produces the same fingerprint. Because only the fingerprint is recorded, the contents stay private. Several services and projects use this idea, including ones built on Bitcoin.

Be careful with the phrase in searches: “certificate of existence” usually refers to a business registration document, which is a different thing. Our article what is proof of existence? explains the blockchain meaning in more depth.

Where TimeBinder fits

TimeBinder is one way to make such a record. A TimeBind records a SHA-256 fingerprint of the exact file and a time, anchored to Bitcoin. The fingerprint is made in your browser and the file is not uploaded. It shows the file existed no later than the recorded time and still matches. See proof of existence alternatives to compare approaches.

Proof of existence does not show authorship, ownership or that the content is true, and it is not legal advice.

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 proof of existence the same as a certificate of existence?

No. A certificate of existence is usually a company registration document. Proof of existence here means evidence that a file existed by a time.

Is the file revealed?

No. Only a fingerprint is recorded. The file stays with you.

Does it prove I own the file?

No. It shows that an exact file existed no later than a recorded time, not who made it or owns it.

Which ledger is used?

It varies by service. TimeBinder anchors to the Bitcoin blockchain.

Sources

TimeBinder, What is proof of existence?.
TimeBinder, Proof of existence alternatives.

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

Record a fingerprint of the file you rely on

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.