ChainThat

ChainThat is a protocol and software framework designed to enable verifiable chaining of records across multiple distributed ledgers. Rather than a single blockchain, ChainThat provides an interoperability layer that links independent ledgers into a coherent chain of evidence. The core idea is to preserve the integrity of a sequence of data items while allowing different organizations to operate their own ledgers.

Concept and components: A chain segment is a sequence of records appended to a ledger; each record includes a cryptographic hash of the previous item, forming an immutable chain. To enable cross-ledger continuity, ChainThat introduces anchors: compact proofs published to one or more common anchor ledgers, which bind a local chain segment to a global frame without revealing sensitive data. A verifier can check a chain's integrity by validating local hashes against the anchor proof.

Architecture: The system comprises chain participants, anchor services, and a verification module. The anchor service submits periodic cryptographic anchors to shared ledgers or a dedicated anchor network; the verification module reconstructs linkage using local and anchor proofs. The design supports privacy-preserving features such as selective disclosure and zero-knowledge proofs.

Use cases: ChainThat is applicable to supply-chain provenance, regulatory reporting, asset tracking, and cross-border data sharing. It is designed to enable auditable cross-organization data lineage without requiring all participants to merge their internal ledgers.

Criticisms and governance: Supporters emphasize interoperability and data provenance, while critics warn of potential centralization risks if anchor ledgers become trusted bottlenecks. Performance, storage growth, and the need for a robust governance model are common considerations for deployments. See also: blockchain, distributed ledger technology, data provenance, chain of custody.