FOR CLIENTS & RECIPIENTS
Whether it's a verification URL, a certificate, or a timelapse — here's what it means and how to trust it. No installation required.
WHAT IS PULSE
Creators use Pulse to record their work as they make it. Each recording is timestamped on the Bitcoin blockchain — a globally trusted, tamper-proof ledger.
Tamper-proof
Bitcoin blockchain backed.
No middleman
Decentralized — no company controls it.
Independently verifiable
Anyone can verify without Pulse.
WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE RECEIVED
A creator might share one or more of these. All trace back to the same Bitcoin blockchain timestamp.
IMAGE
Certificate
Self-contained document. Printable / archivable. Available for all users including Free.
Includes work title and creator info, cryptographic hash, Bitcoin-anchored timestamp, and verification reference.
VIDEO
Timelapse
Visual record of the creation process. MP4 etc. Available for all users including Free.
Includes visual record of the creation, embedded session timestamps, and reference to the underlying work hash.
URL
Verification Page
Browser-based interactive verification. Requires Verification Page Add-on on the creator side.
Shows the creator's name and handle, work metadata, Bitcoin-verified timestamp, optional timelapse and samples, plus built-in and independent verification options.
.OTS FILE
OTS Proof File
Raw OpenTimestamps cryptographic proof file. Most technical, most portable for independent verification.
Contains the raw cryptographic proof, pairs with the original work file, and is verifiable directly at opentimestamps.org.
All artifacts share the same underlying cryptographic proof anchored to Bitcoin's blockchain. They differ in format and convenience, not in trustworthiness.
HOW TO TRUST IT
Pulse uses OpenTimestamps, an open protocol that anchors timestamps to Bitcoin's blockchain. You don't have to trust Pulse — you can verify independently.
STEP 1 · HASH
A cryptographic fingerprint of the work file is created locally. The original file never leaves the creator's device unless they choose to share it.
STEP 2 · ANCHOR
The hash is submitted to OpenTimestamps. It's bundled with thousands of other hashes and recorded on Bitcoin's blockchain.
STEP 3 · VERIFY
Anyone can verify the hash exists in Bitcoin's blockchain at the claimed time. Independent verification doesn't require Pulse — use opentimestamps.org.
Even if Pulse disappears tomorrow, the proof remains valid. The artifact you received is mathematically verifiable forever.
USE CASES
Commissioned work
A freelance illustrator delivers commissioned work along with a certificate or verification URL — confirming they did the work themselves, between agreed dates.
IP disputes
When two parties claim authorship, the one with the earlier verifiable timestamp has provable priority.
Provenance for digital assets
Buyers can verify the creator was actually working on the piece, not just minting someone else's work.
Plagiarism defense
If your work is copied, your Pulse timestamp proves you were the original creator.
FAQ
Q1. Which artifact did I receive?
It depends on what the creator chose to share. Common types: a Certificate (image), a Timelapse video, a Verification URL, or a raw .ots proof file. You may receive several at once. All can be verified independently.
Q2. Can timestamps be faked?
No. The proof is anchored to Bitcoin's blockchain, secured by global mining infrastructure since 2009. Faking a timestamp would require rewriting Bitcoin's history — practically impossible.
Q3. Do I need to install anything?
No. Verification Pages open in any modern browser. Independent verification at opentimestamps.org is also browser-based. Certificates can be opened in standard image viewers.
Q4. Can I verify without trusting Pulse?
Yes — and we encourage it. The cryptographic proof is independent of Pulse. Use opentimestamps.org to verify directly against Bitcoin's blockchain.
Q5. What if Pulse goes out of business?
Existing proofs remain valid because they're on Bitcoin's blockchain, not Pulse's servers. Independent verification continues to work indefinitely.
ARE YOU A CREATOR YOURSELF?
Pulse helps you build the same kind of provable record for your own work — local-first, blockchain-backed, and free to start.