Caprazli Priority Provenance

A Dual-Layer Method for Independent Researchers

Cryptographic priority claims for independent researchers.

The Problem

Independent researchers lack institutional infrastructure for establishing priority. Universities provide witnesses, timestamps, and social proof. Without affiliation, you have none of these.

The Solution

Dual-Layer Provenance combines two complementary mechanisms:

Layer	Purpose	Mechanism
Continuous	Daily work timestamping	Bitcoin blockchain via OpenTimestamps
Formal	Publication registration	DOI via Zenodo

Quick Start

# Install dependencies
pip install opentimestamps-client

# Timestamp a file
python caprazli_provenance.py stamp myfile.pdf
# Creates: myfile.pdf.ots

# Verify a timestamp (after Bitcoin confirmation)
python caprazli_provenance.py verify myfile.pdf.ots

# Install git hook for automatic timestamping
python caprazli_provenance.py install-hook

How It Works

Your file
    │
    ▼
SHA-256 hash
    │
    ▼
OpenTimestamps aggregates with others
    │
    ▼
Merkle root anchored in Bitcoin block
    │
    ▼
Proof stored in .ots file
    │
    ▼
Anyone can verify, forever

Why Bitcoin?

Property	Benefit
Most secure blockchain	15+ years, never compromised
Most decentralized	No single point of failure
Most likely to exist in 2050	Long-term proof durability
Free via OpenTimestamps	No transaction fees

Architecture

See ARCHITECTURE.md for the formal specification (T-003).

Citation

APA 7th:

Caprazli, K. M. (2026). Caprazli Priority Provenance: A Dual-Layer Method for Independent Researchers (Version 1.0.0) [Software]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18115235

Chicago (Author-Date):

Caprazli, Kafkas M. 2026. "Caprazli Priority Provenance: A Dual-Layer Method for Independent Researchers." Software, version 1.0.0. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18115235.

MLA 9th:

Caprazli, Kafkas M. Caprazli Priority Provenance: A Dual-Layer Method for Independent Researchers. Version 1.0.0, Zenodo, 2026, doi:10.5281/zenodo.18115235.

IEEE:

K. M. Caprazli, "Caprazli Priority Provenance: A Dual-Layer Method for Independent Researchers," version 1.0.0, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18115235

BibTeX:

@software{caprazli_provenance_2026,
  author       = {Caprazli, Kafkas M.},
  title        = {Caprazli Priority Provenance: A Dual-Layer Method for Independent Researchers},
  year         = 2026,
  version      = {1.0.0},
  publisher    = {Zenodo},
  doi          = {10.5281/zenodo.18115235},
  url          = {https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18115235}
}

See CITATION.cff for machine-readable metadata (Zotero, GitHub, etc.).

Author

Kafkas M. Caprazli ORCID: 0000-0002-5744-8944

License

CC-BY-4.0 — Use freely, attribution required. See LICENSE.