Method for generating forgery-proof certificates

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for generating forgery-proof certificates, comprising the steps of: generating a non-fungible token (NFT) with the data from a resource to be certified, generating one or more fungible tokens, each fungible token representing rights to a part of the resource, generating a project which requires the consumption of a part of the resource, generating a certificate in which the fungible token is connected to the project, and destroying the fungible token by token burning.

Description

[0001] GREENKEEPER GMBH

[0002] Methods for generating counterfeit-proof certificates

[0003] The invention relates to a method for producing counterfeit-proof certificates.

[0004] Certificates, in the broadest sense, are attestations or documents that confirm information about a matter.

[0005] For example, a classic CO2 certificate is proof that represents the reduction or removal of one metric ton of carbon dioxide (CO2) or other greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. These certificates serve as a market-based instrument for controlling and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

[0006] A CO2 certificate typically corresponds to one tonne of CO2 equivalent. In emissions trading, one certificate entitles a company to emit one tonne of CO2 within a specific period. Companies and individuals can purchase CO2 certificates to offset their unavoidable emissions and thus contribute to climate neutrality. CO2 certificates play a crucial role in achieving global climate goals by creating economic incentives for emissions reductions and promoting investment in sustainable technologies and projects.

[0007] One problem with these CO2 certificates is that a central register must be maintained to record when the CO2 certificate has been used for the emission of the equivalent amount of CO2, in order to prevent the same certificate from being used multiple times – as a forgery, so to speak – with different authorities or the public.

[0008] The invention addresses this problem and provides a technique that reliably prevents the same certificate from being used multiple times.

[0009] The problem is solved by a method according to claim 1. The dependent claims relate to further advantageous aspects of the invention.

[0010] According to the invention, a forgery-proof certificate is generated by first creating a non-fungible token with data of a resource to be certified.

[0011] A non-fungible token (NFT) is a digital asset represented by blockchain technology. The term "non-fungible" means that an NFT is not interchangeable because there are no identical copies of it.

[0012] A non-fungible token (NFT) is a crypto asset that, unlike cryptocurrencies, is unique and indivisible. NFTs can be used to assign a label to virtual goods. They can be collected and traded as proof of certain rights to the virtual goods themselves. This applies, for example, to digital art, music, or individual objects in computer games.

[0013] In the case of this invention, NFTs are used to assign a unique digital marker to the origin (e.g., forest, moor, wind farm) of the resource to be certified (e.g., CO2 storage capacity). A resource, as defined in this description, generally refers to a consumable good, i.e., a means that is used and consumed to achieve a specific goal or to satisfy needs. Resources are things that can be used to create, produce, or maintain something. They can be tangible or intangible.

[0014] In the case of the present invention, this includes in particular the CO2 storage capacity and biodiversity (e.g. of forests, moors, wind and solar power plants and CO2 extraction and / or reduction plants).

[0015] A resource, as defined here, is a tangible or intangible element that is (irretrievably) consumed during processing. Examples include CO2 emission allowances or CO2 permanently stored in the form of biomass. This also includes raw materials or agricultural products, such as green steel, coffee grown on a specific plot of land, cotton, or timber.

[0016] For each non-fungible token, one or more fungible tokens are created, with each fungible token representing rights—such as ownership rights—to a portion of the resource. Fungible tokens differ from non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in that they are not unique. They are particularly well-suited for transactions and as digital currencies due to their interchangeability and ease of use.

[0017] Examples of fungible tokens include the coins of well-known digital currencies. They primarily serve as a means of payment or a store of value. Well-known coins include Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), and TonCoin (TON). Unlike these classic coins, which are completely indistinguishable, the fungible tokens described here still encode a specific NFT. The connection between the fungible token and a particular resource, such as the amount of CCh stored in a specific plot of forest land, is thus maintained.

[0018] In other words, a fungible token is an interchangeable digital asset that exists on a blockchain. Essentially, every fungible token is equivalent—for example, representing one ton of stored CO2—and can be replaced by another token of the same type. However, according to the invention, the connection between the respective NFT and the fungible token remains, allowing users of the system to individually assign higher values ​​to certain fungible tokens, for example, if regionality is valued and a user prefers a local forest owner to one in a distant country.

[0019] Fungible tokens can be divided into smaller units, similar to currencies.

[0020] Fungible tokens are digital assets built on existing blockchains (such as Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, or Solana) and can be used for a variety of applications. They are not necessarily intended as a means of payment but can be used for various purposes. Fungible tokens are often based on platforms like Ethereum, which use the ERC-2 O standard (in the case of Ethereum-based tokens).

[0021] In this invention, fungible tokens are used to quantify a resource to be certified. For example, fungible tokens can be used to represent the CO2 storage capacity of, say, a forest, a peatland, a wind farm, or a carbon capture and / or reduction plant. One fungible token can correspond to a defined quantity of CO2 (e.g., 1 token = 1 ton of CO2).

[0022] Subsequently, a project is created that requires the consumption of a portion of the resource.

[0023] For the purposes of this description, a project is any action or omission that involves the consumption of any of the resources mentioned above. Examples of a project include the construction of a specific building, the operation of a business over a certain period of time, or the production of a particular coffee product or garment.

[0024] Subsequently, a certificate is generated in which the fungible token is associated with a specific project, and at the same time the fungible token is destroyed by token burning.

[0025] Token burning (also known as "token burning") is a process in which a specific amount of cryptocurrency or fungible tokens is permanently removed from circulation by being sent to an address that no one can access. This "burning" address is often a so-called "dead address" or "blackhole address" that lacks the private keys to redistribute the tokens. In most cases, token burning is used to reduce the total supply of a cryptocurrency and thus serves as a hedge against inflation.

[0026] In this invention, token burning is used for the first time to solve the fundamental technical problem of global CO2 trading by automatically and tamper-proof burning the fungible tokens of the respective CCh quantity used in project compensation. This ensures that the fungible tokens used are irreversibly deactivated.

[0027] Since, according to the invention, the (compensation) certificate now both uniquely identifies the resource and is assigned to a specific project, it can be ensured that the same resource is not used twice. Because this all takes place on a blockchain, no central register is required in which the certificates and their usage need to be recorded and tracked.

[0028] In common parlance within the carbon market, the term CO2 certificates is generally used. One certificate typically corresponds to the storage capacity of one ton of CO2.

[0029] In the present invention, preferably one ton of CO2 corresponds exactly to one fungible token.

[0030] The certificate of invention, hereinafter also referred to as the compensation certificate, certifies the successful compensation of a project by a sufficient number of fungible tokens that are burned as part of the compensation process.

[0031] The (compensation) certificate of the invention should therefore not be confused with the CO2 certificate of the traditional CO2 market.

[0032] The (compensation) certificate according to the invention is tamper-proof through hashing and references to the corresponding transactions on the blockchain and serves as proof of emission compensation, thus significantly reducing the effort required for auditing annual reports (e.g. for CSRD reporting).

[0033] The possibility of digital transmission or

[0034] By embedding the compensation certificate in other systems, CCh compensation certificates can be automated and implemented in supply chain software, CRMs and other process monitoring software.

[0035] This can also contribute to sustainability.

[0036] Since, according to the invention, the certificate now both uniquely identifies the resource and is assigned to a specific project, it can be ensured that the same resource is not used twice. Because this all takes place on a blockchain, no central register is required in which the certificates and their usage need to be recorded and tracked.

[0037] The invention is described in detail below with reference to a preferred embodiment and the accompanying figures. These figures show:

[0038] Figure 1: A flowchart to illustrate the method according to the invention;

[0039] Figure 2: A flowchart for the generation of the non-fungible token.

[0040] The example relates to CO2 certificates.

[0041] Within the scope of this invention, the CO2 compensation of a project is carried out in the following steps:

[0042] For the user, the process is as shown in Fig. 2. This means first creating a project whose emissions are to be offset. This project includes, among other things, information such as the time period, description, and the amount of CO2 emissions to be offset. Then, the user selects one or more sources from which CO2 storage capacity (tokens) is to be purchased.

[0043] He then selects one or more origins from which CO2 storage capacity (tokens) is to be acquired and purchases the required amount of fungible tokens.

[0044] The acquired fungible tokens are assigned to the project being compensated, and finally, the project is certified by linking the fungible tokens to the project and burning them. Simultaneously, a compensation certificate is generated and made available for download. This process irreversibly links the tokens to the project while simultaneously burning (deactivating) the tokens.

[0045] The entire compensation process is transparently traceable on the blockchain.

[0046] As shown in Figure 2, in the first step of an environmental initiative, a creator of NFTs, also referred to here as a miner, acquires the rights to exploit the CO2 storage, for example, of a forest plot, a peatland plot, or another carbon sink, directly from the legal owner or indirectly from the service provider commissioned with the management of the plot / carbon sink – hereinafter referred to as the cedent. For this purpose, the geographical boundaries and proof of ownership are first established.

[0047] Although the invention is described here using the example of a wooded property, it is not limited to this. It is also conceivable to assess the increase in stored CO2 in renatured peatlands. Furthermore, it is conceivable to utilize the amount of CCt extracted from the environment through CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) economically in this way.

[0048] In the case of a forest plot, a long-term contract – preferably for 20 or 30 years – is concluded. This contract is preferably notarized and also exists in the form of a (digital) deed. The contract includes, firstly, the survey data for the property, but also the cedent's obligation to manage the forest sustainably, including the obligation to increase biodiversity, raise the timber yield, and improve resilience to ensure the forest's stability even under changing climatic conditions. The long-term goal is to increase the distribution of the harvest for long-term uses, such as in the construction industry or furniture manufacturing.

[0049] In a further step, a forest management plan is developed and the tree population of the forest property is determined. This is preferably done fully automatically using AI-supported analysis of optical data – such as satellite images – and radar or LiDAR data. The tree species on the property can be identified from the image data.

[0050] Different tree species have different properties for subsequent use, so the proportion of wood suitable for this type of use varies. Statistical data reflecting the value of individual trees as long-term CO2 sinks are available in relevant databases.

[0051] Furthermore, a forestry contract for the transfer of CO2 utilization rights is concluded and filed. The additionality of the management plan is preferably confirmed by experts. In a further step, this data collection is repeated at preferably regular intervals, approximately every year, and the biomass or the amount of stored CO2 (CO2 quantification) is determined, and the measurement results of the CO2 quantification are compared. The comparison allows for the determination of the increase in biomass or the increase in bound CO2 of the forest plot. Biomass determination is carried out using AI-supported remote sensing, as already described above.

[0052] In the next step, all this data, including the contract data, is compiled into a single dataset and stored by the miner in a database. This dataset is then audited and certified by a recognized auditor or other accredited authority. This involves an auditor reviewing all the data and creating a release document. This initial digital dataset is stored in a decentralized storage system, such as IPFS.

[0053] Besides renowned auditing firms, other institutions such as technical inspection associations and auditors, such as the UNFCC, are also suitable as trusted bodies for issuing such a certificate.

[0054] IPFS stands for Interplanetary File System and is a decentralized data storage system. Advantages of IPFS include the fact that data is stored on many different nodes of the network. This ensures data availability and reliability. Data is hashed (see, for example, the SHA algorithm). During hashing, each stored file is assigned a number. Changing a single bit of this file results in a completely different number. This ensures the integrity of the stored file at all times. In the present invention, IPFS is used to store documentation of the resource's origin transparently and securely. This documentation also includes the aforementioned attestation, which confirms the accuracy of the data presented therein.

[0055] Unlike traditional URLs that point to a specific location (server), IPFS uses content-based addressing. This means that files are identified by their content (via a cryptographic hash). The hash is unique to the file's content, so any change to the file results in a new hash.

[0056] IPFS supports data versioning, making changes to files traceable. Content remains available as long as it is stored by nodes on the network. Because files can be stored by multiple nodes, the system is less prone to failures.

[0057] In a further step, the miner generates non-fungible tokens (NFTs) from this initial dataset, which now inextricably link the biomass data and the auditor's report. In other words, links to the document locations are stored in an NFT of the respective environmental initiative. In other words, an NFT is then created containing all relevant information and links to images, data, and documents.

[0058] NFTs are usually based on a blockchain such as Ethereum, using standards like ERC-721 and ERC-1155 to define their unique properties. A blockchain is a decentralized, digital database that stores information in a way that is both transparent and tamper-proof. It functions like a public, distributed ledger where transactions or data are stored chronologically. The blockchain consists of blocks linked together in a linear chain. Each block contains data such as transaction information (e.g., in Bitcoin: sender, recipient, amount), a timestamp indicating when the block was created, a hash value (a kind of digital signature of the block), and the hash of the previous block to establish the link to the chain.

[0059] Each NET possesses specific metadata and properties that make it unique. These properties are permanently stored in the blockchain and cannot be altered.

[0060] For example, a digital artwork can be created as a NET, which contains information about the artist, the date of creation, and the owner.

[0061] Blockchain technology makes it possible to definitively prove ownership of an NFT. This is particularly important for digital content, where copies can be easily made. The blockchain verifies who owns the "original version."

[0062] NFTs are created using smart contracts on the blockchain. Smart contracts are self-executing programs that run on a blockchain and define rules and logic for the NET. For example, an artist creates a digital artwork and "mints" (creates) a NET for it. The NFT's smart contract could contain the following information: the artwork's name, the artist's name, a link to the digital file, the number of copies created (e.g., only 1 to make the artwork unique), and terms for royalties on resales.

[0063] NFTs can thus serve as digital certificates of authenticity for physical or digital products, such as the emission rights for a specific quantity of CO2. The owner of the NFT can therefore prove ownership without the involvement of a third party (such as a gallery or bank). The blockchain publicly records every transaction, facilitating traceability. NFTs often eliminate the need for intermediaries.

[0064] In a further step, one or more fungible tokens are generated from the non-fungible token. These fungible tokens represent the right to emit approximately one ton of CO2, as the equivalent amount of CO2 is permanently bound in the forest's biomass and durable wood products. For this purpose, the fungible tokens are allocated to the NFT according to the calculated storage capacity of the source.

[0065] The advantage of this approach is that these fungible tokens can now be easily traded. For example, a developer can determine the CO2 emissions associated with the construction of their building—their project—and then purchase the corresponding amount of fungible tokens. These fungible tokens are all securely backed by the non-fungible tokens audited by an auditor, such as a certified public accountant, and cannot be increased beyond this amount.

[0066] Once the developer has acquired the fungible token and intends to use it to offset their emissions, the fungible token is "burned," ensuring that the NFT is used only once. The fungible token is destroyed.

[0067] In the same step, however, a (compensation) certificate is created that inextricably links the fungible token used and the project, in this example the building.

[0068] Since the fungible token is no longer available after "burning" and the certificate is already linked to the project, it can be ruled out that the CO2 quantity (resource) of the non-fungible token is used multiple times to compensate for CO2 emissions without the need to maintain a central register for this purpose.

[0069] Furthermore, fungible tokens offer CO2 emitters the opportunity to easily purchase them online and – if demand is lower than anticipated – to resell them, provided they have not burned the fungible token and a certificate has not been created. This enables the rapid and precise allocation of business resources to offset CO2 emissions.

[0070] For the cedent, the system offers the advantage that he can be compensated quickly and easily for the additional effort involved in the adapted, sustainable management of the forest.

[0071] The invention was described above using a CO2 certificate as an example. However, the invention is not limited to this. It is possible to use a non-fungible token to track other resources, such as "green" steel.

[0072] In this case, the steel mill creates the non-fungible token and, based on that, the corresponding number of fungible tokens. The non-fungible token encodes the amount of green steel the steel mill has produced in approximately one month. The associated fungible tokens then each represent, for example, one ton of steel from that amount of green steel produced.

[0073] A developer can then purchase steel from any source and "convert" it into green steel by using the corresponding number of fungible tokens, burning the fungible tokens, and generating the certificate linked to their project. Since the steel mill is compensated for the higher production costs of the green steel via the fungible tokens, it can sell the green steel itself at competitive prices without having to wait for a buyer willing to bear the higher production costs.

[0074] Similarly, the invention can be used in the trade of coffee or cotton.

Claims

Claims 1. Procedure for generating counterfeit-proof certificates with the following steps: Generating a Non-Fungible Token (NET) using the data of a resource to be certified, Generating one or more fungible tokens, where each fungible token represents rights to a portion of the resource, Creating a project that requires the consumption of a portion of the resource, Generating a certificate in which the fungible token is linked to the project, whereby the fungible token is destroyed by token burning.

2. Method for producing counterfeit-proof certificates according to claim 1, wherein the resource is a consumable good that is consumed within the project.

3. Method for producing tamper-proof certificates according to claim 1, wherein the resource is CO2 stored in a plot of land.

4. Method for producing counterfeit-proof certificates according to claim 3, wherein the property is a woodland property.

5. Method for producing tamper-proof certificates according to claim 3 or 4, comprising the following steps: Determining the property by means of surveyors for which a right of exploitation has been agreed, Determining the biomass on the property that can serve as a CO2 storage medium, Periodic CO2 quantification in the form of biomass on the property, recalculation of the biomass, Generating a data set from the geodesists, the newly calculated biomass and a right of exploitation, Generating the non-fungible token from this dataset.

6. Method for producing counterfeit-proof certificates according to claim 4, comprising the following steps: Determining the location of a forest plot using surveyors, for which a right of exploitation has been agreed, Determining the tree population on the forest property, developing a management plan to increase biodiversity and CCh storage capacity Periodic CO2 quantification in the form of biomass on the forest property, Comparing the current CO2 quantification with a projected CO2 quantification of the same forest plot during the further course of management, Calculating the increase in biomass, Calculating the increment of long-term usable timber from the increment of biomass and tree stock, generating a dataset from the geodesic data, the increment of long-term usable timber and the utilization rights, generating an auditor's certificate for this dataset, and Generating the non-fungible token based on the auditor's certificate.

7. Method for generating counterfeit-proof certificates according to claim 6 wherein the tree population on the forest property and the CO2 quantification are carried out by AI-supported evaluation of optical, radar and / or LiDAR data.

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