Signatures on Blockchain

Handwritten signatures have served as a legally binding certificates for centuries, but the digital age required digital means of signing documents. Electronic signatures emerged to represent consent digitally (e.g. visual representations of signatures, or simply clicking an “I accept” button). However, electronic signatures do not provide a high guarantee of proof of identity for the signer or for the validity of the document. To solve this problem, digital signatures were adopted, which use cryptographic technology to better confirm the document signature is from a particular signer.

In the past years, most governments have adapted their legislations to recognize the legal integrity of digital signatures (e.g.: UETA and ESIGN Act in the USA, eIDAS in the EU/UK).