Blockchain-based Decentralized Time Lock Machines: Automated Reveal of Time-sensitive Information

Conditional Information Reveal (CIR) automates the release of information upon meeting specific pre-defined conditions, such as time or location. This paper advances the understanding and implementation of CIR by introducing a new paradigm to highlight the security challenges in CIR design, and proposes a decentralized architecture as a design guideline for secure CIR systems. Furthermore, in the context of time-sensitive data sharing, this paper proposes a practical timed-release cryptography system employing the proposed architecture and a novel verifiable secret sharing scheme. Key achievements of this study include the creation of an open-source prototype for practical deployment and a comprehensive system evaluation that highlights the enhanced security and efficiency of the proposed system. Furthermore, the paper delves into the application of this system in E-voting scenarios, illustrating its capacity to secure and ensure fair electronic voting processes.