Devices, systems, and methods for public / private key authentication

Abstract

A system for conducting authentication transactions, such as cryptocurrency transactions, includes a storage device with a secure element (SE) that digitally stores encrypted public and private keys, generates a public key using the private key, and performs sign and hash operations. A processing device (PD) is configured to establish a connection over NFC with the SE. The PD receives initiation of a transaction via a user interface, establishes an NFC link with the SE, and sends the SE information for processing via NFC. The secure element retrieves the private key, performs hash operations using the private key to generate a signature, confirms the signature conforms to a public key that could only have been generated using the private key, signs the transaction, and sends signed transaction information to the processing device. The processing device accesses a network and sends signed transaction information operative to complete the transaction.

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