Mastercard Files Patent for Payment System Linking Blockchain Currency, Fiat Accounts

Mastercard has filed a new patent for consumer protection and payment transactions based on blockchain technology, according to a US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) patent filing published July 17.

The new patent application includes a new form of a public blockchain-based method for linking assets between blockchain and fiat currency accounts.

Mastercard’s patent describes the method for “managing fractional reserves of blockchain currency” as storing fiat currency in one central account with a “blockchain currency” stored in a second. The system would include a “plurality of account profiles, each profile including a fiat currency amount, blockchain currency amount, account identifier, and address,” for identifying user accounts for transactions.

Mastercard notes that the combination of traditional payment systems with blockchain-based currencies “may provide consumers and merchants the benefits of the decentralized blockchain while still maintaining security of account information and provide a strong defense against fraud and theft.”

Mastercard writes in the patent application that the new method allows for the assessment of the likelihood of fraud or risk associated with blockchain transactions, since existing payment algorithms like credit bureau data or demographic information can be provided by the traditional payment networks.

The patent also states that the public blockchain-based method can reduce transaction times, as well as secure users’ information.

Last month, Mastercard had filed another patent for for a blockchain system to speed up payments and to make them more secure. The financial services company had published a patent to provide faster blockchain node activation in April as well.

Although Mastercard has been moving towards adoption of blockchain tech through its patent applications, it has been more negative in its stance towards cryptocurrencies. Last fall, the company’s CEO referred to non-government-backed cryptocurrencies as “junk.”