time-lock

Create time-lock puzzle payloads that cannot be opened before a specified duration.

Usage

shadowforge time-lock <COMMAND>

Subcommands

lock

shadowforge time-lock lock \
  --input <FILE> --output <FILE> --duration <SECONDS>

unlock

shadowforge time-lock unlock \
  --input <FILE> --output <FILE>

Examples

# Lock a payload for 24 hours (86400 seconds)
shadowforge time-lock lock \
  --input secret.txt --output locked.bin --duration 86400

# Unlock (requires sequential computation)
shadowforge time-lock unlock \
  --input locked.bin --output recovered.txt

How It Works

Uses Rivest’s iterated squaring scheme: the payload is encrypted with a key that can only be derived by performing a sequential chain of modular squarings. No amount of parallelism can speed this up.

Important: Time-lock puzzles provide a practical delay, not a cryptographic guarantee. Hardware advances may reduce the effective delay. Do not rely on this as the sole time-based protection.

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