How the Protocol Works
Understand the mechanics of conditional delivery and how SovSeal ensures your legacy reaches the right hands autonomously.
How the Protocol Works
Regular cloud storage services — Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud — were designed for temporary access. Their model is "Rent and Repeat." SovSeal was purpose-built for a different mission: Autonomous Succession.
The Mechanism of Sovereignty
The Human Threat: The greatest risk to your legacy isn't hackers—it's human error. Lost passwords, expired subscriptions, and forgotten files are the primary cause of digital asset loss.
The SovSeal protocol ensures your legacy reaches the right hands via four simplified layers:
Layer 0: The Vault (Required)
The foundation of the protocol. Your encrypted files are stored permanently on Arweave. No monthly rent, just an initial endowment fee ($99/GB) to fund lifetime persistence.
Layer 1: People (Optional)
Specify the human layer of your legacy:
- Guardians: Trusted contacts who hold cryptographic fragments to help recover your keys or authorize claims.
- Heirs: The individuals who receive your decrypted directives.
Layer 2: Release (Requires Layer 1)
Define the triggers that release your vault:
- Dead Man's Switch: Automatic release if you miss your heartbeat.
- Guardian Claim: Majority consensus among your guardians.
- Manual Release: Immediate hand-over.
Layer 3: Proof (Optional)
The verification layer. Your vault’s hash is anchored on the Base Mainnet for multi-generational auditability.
Why We Are Superior to a "Dead Man's Switch"
Most decentralized "Dead Man's Switches" (like Sarcophagus) fail because they require Active Maintenance. If you forget to "re-wrap" your keys or sign a transaction every 30 days, your data is leaked or deleted.
| Feature | Typical Dead Man's Switch | SovSeal Protocol |
|---|---|---|
| Verification | Active. You must log in and sign a transaction. | Passive. We monitor your digital footprint (Email, Socials). |
| Burden | High Anxiety ("Did I sign this month?"). | Zero Anxiety ("Set and Forget"). |
| Failure Mode | Accidental Release (if you are in a coma). | Grace Period + Guardian Confirmation. |
| Cost | Volatile Crypto Tokens. | Pay-As-You-Go Credits (USD). |
SovSeal is designed for Passive Succession. We do not require you to act to prove you are alive; we simply confirm when you have ceased to be active.
The Operational Lifecycle
- Sealing: You encrypt your directives via the Digital Airlock. Your credits fund the Arweave persistence.
- Delegation: Fragmented authority (SSS) is distributed to your Guardians.
- Persistence: Your encrypted legacy sits in the global ledger, awaiting a trigger.
- Verification: The protocol monitors your liveness pulse passively.
- Succession: Upon confirmed inactivity, the protocol matures. Guardians release authority. Heirs receive their inheritance.
Related Topics
What is SovSeal?
SovSeal is a Sovereign Inheritance Protocol designed to ensure your most critical data and digital assets bridge the gap to your heirs autonomously.
Who is SovSeal For?
SovSeal serves individuals, families, and professionals who need to protect and transfer digital assets with confidence.