Computer-implemented systems and methods to enable complex functionality on a blockchain while preserving security-based restrictions on script size and opcode limits

Abstract

The invention relates to blockchain technologies such as the Bitcoin blockchain. The invention uses a novel technique to decompose the functionality of a blockchain transaction script into several chunks or functional parts, and to use the output of a chunk as the input of the next chunk. Advantageously, this allows the blockchain to be used for ever complex tasks and computations while minimising script size, and also provides a novel architecture for the distributed execution of computational processes. The invention comprises a method of using a plurality of blockchain transactions to execute a computer-implemented task, comprising the steps: using an unlocking script (ULS1) associated with a first input (In1) in a blockchain transaction (Tx2) to present at least one data item to a locking script (LS1) of another transaction (Tx1) so as to provide a result on a stack; amending the blockchain transaction (Tx2) to include a second input (In2); generating a further unlocking script (ULS2) associated with the second input (In2), the further unlocking script (ULS2) comprising the result from the stack; and presenting the further unlocking script (ULS2) to a further locking script (LS2) such that the result from the stack is provided as input to the further locking script (LS2). Preferably, the locking script (LS1) and the further locking script (LS2) are provided in association with different outputs within the same blockchain transaction (Tx1).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.