Creating Your First Timestamp

Before You Begin

To create a timestamp you need two things: a connected wallet and at least one credit. If you haven’t set up your account yet, see the Getting Started guide.

Make sure you have the file you want to timestamp accessible on your device. Any file type works — PDFs, images, videos, audio, code, spreadsheets, archives, or anything else.

Step 1: Open the Timestamp Interface

Navigate to app.timeprooflabs.com and sign in with your wallet. From the dashboard, click Create Timestamp or use the timestamp area in the center of the screen.

The timestamp interface shows your current unified balance at the top so you always know what’s available.

Step 2: Select Your File

Drag your file onto the upload area, or click to open a file browser. As soon as you select a file, TimeProof begins computing its SHA-256 hash in your browser.

What Happens During Hashing

SHA-256 is a cryptographic hash function that produces a unique 64-character hexadecimal string for any input. Two properties make it ideal for timestamping:

Deterministic: The same file always produces the same hash. Re-hash the file tomorrow, next year, or in a decade — the result is identical
Collision-resistant: No two different files produce the same hash. Even changing a single bit in your file produces a completely different hash

The hash computation runs entirely in your browser. Your file is never uploaded, transmitted, or stored by TimeProof. Only the 64-character hash string leaves your device.

For large files (hundreds of megabytes), hashing may take a few seconds. A progress indicator shows the status.

Step 3: Choose Your Timestamp Type

After hashing, select your timestamp mode:

Type	Cost	Anchoring Speed	Best For
Instant	2 credits/file, verified only	~2 seconds	Urgent proof, real-time workflows
Scheduled	1 credit/file	Next batch window	Archival, batch jobs, cost savings

Instant timestamps submit your hash to the blockchain immediately. Your proof is confirmed in the next Polygon block, typically within two seconds. Choose instant mode when you need immediate confirmation — for example, before sending a file to a client or submitting evidence.

Scheduled timestamps queue your hash for the next batch anchoring window (00:00–06:00 UTC). Multiple hashes are combined into a Merkle tree and anchored in a single transaction. Choose scheduled mode when timing is flexible and you want the lowest credit cost.

Both modes produce identical blockchain proof. The PDF certificate, Polygonscan link, and public verification tools work the same way regardless of mode. See Scheduled vs Instant Timestamps for a deeper comparison.

Step 4: Optional — Enable Legal-Grade

If you are an active verified subscriber, you can toggle the Legal-Grade upgrade before confirming. This adds a courtroom-ready evidence package to your timestamp:

Courtroom-Ready PDF certificate
Identity attestation (JWS) signed by TimeProof
Merkle proof with verification instructions
Complete ZIP package for download

Legal-Grade uses plan-aware pricing: Starter and Pro charge 50 credits for up to 25 files, then +2 credits per file after 25. Business charges 25 credits for up to 25 files, then +1 credit per file after 25. Enterprise includes Legal-Grade. So timestamping 10 scheduled files with Legal-Grade costs 60 credits by default: 10 file credits plus the 50-credit batch upgrade. See the Legal-Grade Package Guide for full details.

Step 5: Confirm and Anchor

Click Confirm to submit. For instant timestamps, your hash is anchored to the Polygon blockchain within seconds and you’ll see a confirmation with the transaction hash. For scheduled timestamps, you’ll see a “queued” confirmation and receive a notification when the batch anchors.

What Happens On-Chain

TimeProof’s smart contract receives your file hash (or the Merkle root of a batch) and records it permanently. The blockchain stores:

The hash value
The block timestamp (UTC)
The transaction hash (a unique identifier for this specific transaction)
The block number

This data is public and immutable. Anyone can look it up on Polygonscan at any time.

Step 6: Download Your Certificate

After anchoring completes, download your PDF certificate from the dashboard. The certificate contains:

Your file’s SHA-256 hash
The blockchain transaction hash and block number
The timestamp (human-readable and UTC ISO format)
A QR code linking to the verification page
Instructions for independent verification

Store this certificate alongside your original file. The certificate is your portable proof — it works even if TimeProof is offline, because anyone can verify the blockchain record directly on Polygonscan.

Verifying Your Timestamp

After creating a timestamp, you can verify it at any time:

Visit the verification page or go directly to Polygonscan
Re-hash your file to confirm the hash matches your certificate
Look up the transaction hash on Polygonscan to confirm the blockchain record

Verification is free and does not require a TimeProof account. Third parties can verify your timestamp using only the original file and the certificate.

Tips for Your First Timestamp

Start with a test file — pick any file and create a single IT timestamp to see the full flow
Check your certificate — open the PDF and review each field so you understand what’s recorded
Try verification — re-hash your file and compare it to the certificate to experience the verification process
Organize early — save certificates in the same folder as the original files so they’re always paired

Next Steps

Scheduled vs Instant Timestamps — understand the trade-offs
Batch Timestamping — timestamp multiple files at once
Legal-Grade Package Guide — court-ready upgrades
How to Verify a Timestamp — confirm any proof