Multisig and Timelocks
10 min readinteractive
A timelock is a safe that cannot be opened until a specific date — enforced by the blockchain itself. Combined with multisig, you can create sophisticated custody arrangements: "2 of 3 signers, but after 1 year, 1 of 3 is enough" for inheritance planning.
Master advanced Bitcoin features: multisignature wallets and time-locked transactions.
Multisig Configurations:
- •2-of-2: Both parties must sign
- •2-of-3: Any two of three can sign
- •3-of-5: Corporate treasury setup
- •N-of-M: Flexible threshold
Use Cases:
- •Escrow services
- •Corporate treasuries
- •Inheritance planning
- •Exchange cold storage
Timelock Types:
- •nLockTime: Transaction-level lock
- •OP_CHECKLOCKTIMEVERIFY: Script-level absolute time
- •OP_CHECKSEQUENCEVERIFY: Relative time locks
Enable features like payment channels, atomic swaps, and inheritance.
Key Takeaway
Timelocks and multisig together solve real problems: inheritance, business treasury management, and escrow services — all without trusting a third party.
Enjoying these lessons?
Get a free Bitcoin lesson in your inbox every week. Join thousands of learners.
Free forever. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.