US12602692B2 - Systems and Methods for Decreasing Counterparty Settlement Risk Using Time-Weighted Index Averages for Cryptocurrency Swaps
Summary
The USPTO granted Patent US12602692B2 to MARA Holdings, Inc. on April 14, 2026. The patent covers apparatus, systems, and methods for improving efficiency in transacting swaps or other futures-based financial instruments by using time-weighted index averages to decrease counterparty settlement risk. In preferred embodiments, the swaps are based upon a time-weighted index average of multiple instances of cryptocurrency mining difficulty over multiple time periods derived from decentralized public blockchain data.
What changed
USPTO granted Patent US12602692B2 to MARA Holdings, Inc. for systems and methods related to decreasing counterparty settlement risk in transacting swaps or futures-based financial instruments. The patent covers the use of time-weighted index averages (Dwa) calculated from multiple instances of mining difficulty (Dx to Dy) over multiple time periods (Px to Py), where both difficulty and time period data are sourced from decentralized public blockchains. The index can be used to increase or decrease mining of digital assets or switch allocation of resources between different digital assets.
MARA Holdings, Inc. (Assignee) and Ashu Swami (Inventor) now hold exclusive rights to this patent covering 20 claims. Financial institutions, cryptocurrency exchanges, and trading firms involved in cryptocurrency derivatives may need to assess whether their settlement systems or methods fall within the scope of these claims to evaluate potential licensing needs or design-around considerations.
Archived snapshot
Apr 17, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Systems and methods for decreasing counterparty settlement risk
Grant US12602692B2 Kind: B2 Apr 14, 2026
Assignee
MARA Holdings, Inc.
Inventors
Ashu Swami
Abstract
Apparatus, systems and methods improve efficiency in transacting a swap or other futures based financial instrument, by using time-weighted index averages to decrease counterparty settlement risk. In preferred embodiments related to Bitcoin and several other cryptocurrencies, the swaps are based upon a time-weighted index average (Dwa) of multiple instances of difficulty (Dx to Dy) of mining the cryptocurrency over multiple time periods (Px to Py) where both Ds and Ps are available from the decentralized public blockchain. Traders can use these time-weighted index averages in conjunction with the anticipated values of Ds and Ps for the remainder of the duration of the index, to calculate the index value at any given time. The index can be used to increase or decrease mining of digital assets, or switch allocation of resources between mining different digital assets.
CPC Classifications
G06Q 20/4016 G06Q 20/065 G06Q 20/3827 G06Q 40/04 G06Q 2220/00 H04L 9/50 H04L 2209/56
Filing Date
2023-11-21
Application No.
18515776
Claims
20
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