A time-bound signature scheme for blockchains

Benjamin Marsh; Paolo Serafino

A time-bound signature scheme for blockchains

School of Computing

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

We introduce a modified Schnorr signature scheme to allow for time-bound signatures for transaction fee auction bidding and smart contract purposes in a blockchain context, ensuring an honest producer can only validate a signature before a given block height. The immutable blockchain is used as a source of universal time for the signature scheme. We show the use of such a signature scheme leads to lower MEV revenue for builders. We then apply our time-bound signatures to Ethereum's EIP-1559 and show how it can be used to mitigate the effect of MEV on predicted equilibrium strategies.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2025 IEEE International Conference on Blockchain
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Publication status	Accepted for publication - 10 Sept 2025
Event	2025 IEEE International Conference on Blockchain - Zhengzhou, China Duration: 30 Oct 2025 → 1 Nov 2025

Conference

Conference	2025 IEEE International Conference on Blockchain
Country/Territory	China
City	Zhengzhou
Period	30/10/25 → 1/11/25

Keywords

Cryptography
Blockchain
Cryptocurrency
Digital signatures
Mechanism design
Game Theory

Embargoed Document

A time-bound signature scheme for blockchains
Accepted author manuscript (Post-print), 338 KB
Due to publisher’s copyright restrictions, this document is not freely available to download from this website until: 1/01/50

Cite this

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title = "A time-bound signature scheme for blockchains",

abstract = "We introduce a modified Schnorr signature scheme to allow for time-bound signatures for transaction fee auction bidding and smart contract purposes in a blockchain context, ensuring an honest producer can only validate a signature before a given block height. The immutable blockchain is used as a source of universal time for the signature scheme. We show the use of such a signature scheme leads to lower MEV revenue for builders. We then apply our time-bound signatures to Ethereum's EIP-1559 and show how it can be used to mitigate the effect of MEV on predicted equilibrium strategies.",

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booktitle = "2025 IEEE International Conference on Blockchain",

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AU - Marsh, Benjamin

AU - Serafino, Paolo

PY - 2025/9/10

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N2 - We introduce a modified Schnorr signature scheme to allow for time-bound signatures for transaction fee auction bidding and smart contract purposes in a blockchain context, ensuring an honest producer can only validate a signature before a given block height. The immutable blockchain is used as a source of universal time for the signature scheme. We show the use of such a signature scheme leads to lower MEV revenue for builders. We then apply our time-bound signatures to Ethereum's EIP-1559 and show how it can be used to mitigate the effect of MEV on predicted equilibrium strategies.

AB - We introduce a modified Schnorr signature scheme to allow for time-bound signatures for transaction fee auction bidding and smart contract purposes in a blockchain context, ensuring an honest producer can only validate a signature before a given block height. The immutable blockchain is used as a source of universal time for the signature scheme. We show the use of such a signature scheme leads to lower MEV revenue for builders. We then apply our time-bound signatures to Ethereum's EIP-1559 and show how it can be used to mitigate the effect of MEV on predicted equilibrium strategies.

KW - Cryptography

KW - Blockchain

KW - Cryptocurrency

KW - Digital signatures

KW - Mechanism design

KW - Game Theory

M3 - Conference contribution

BT - 2025 IEEE International Conference on Blockchain

PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.

T2 - 2025 IEEE International Conference on Blockchain

Y2 - 30 October 2025 through 1 November 2025

ER -

A time-bound signature scheme for blockchains

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

Embargoed Document

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Cite this