Systems and methods for updating a distributed ledger based on partial validations of transactions

Abstract

The systems and methods described herein relate to processing financial transactions using a computer network that stores a distributed ledger, and particularly, to updating the distributed ledger based on data messages received from validation servers that each store a portion of the ledger corresponding to a respective asset. The systems and methods described herein employ the distributed ledger to control visibility of transactions to the general marketplace, but still provide swift and assured completion of transactions and visibility and audit capability for regulators.

1 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method comprising:
 receiving, using control circuitry, a request to modify a data account selected from a plurality of data accounts stored in a distributed ledger, wherein the selected data account stores at least one value associated with at least one asset;   identifying multiple validation servers based on the received request and the at least one asset, wherein the multiple validation servers will validate whether the request can be performed;   modifying the distributed ledger in response to the multiple validation servers validating the request, wherein each of the multiple validation servers is configured to store a redundant copy of the distributed ledger;   sending at least one modified portion of the distributed ledger to each of the multiple validation servers, wherein each of the multiple validation servers is configured to update its respective redundant copy of the distributed ledger with the at least one modified portion of the distributed ledger; and   controlling the multiple validation servers in order to distribute a processing load associated with validating transactions that include the request between the multiple validation servers;   wherein the redundant copy of the distributed ledger at each of the multiple validation servers is a partial redundant copy of the distributed ledger.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 encrypting the plurality of data accounts in the distributed ledger differently so that a decryption process used by the multiple validation servers to access data of a first type of asset cannot be used to access data of a second type of asset.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the distributed ledger is modified to process a payment transaction or a deposit transaction;   the at least one asset corresponds to a security; and   the multiple validation servers belong to an issuing authority of the security.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the issuing authority of the security is a proxy for a central bank that issues a currency or a bond issuer that issues a bond. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the multiple validation servers collectively form a first validator;   the at least one asset comprises a first asset and a second asset; and   the method further comprises determining an identity of a second validator based on the received request, the second validator configured to validate the request for the second asset.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the distributed ledger is modified to process a foreign exchange transaction;   the first asset corresponds to a first currency;   the second asset corresponds to a second currency;   the first validator comprises multiple first computing devices that correspond to a first issuing authority of the first currency; and   the second validator comprises at least one second computing device that corresponds to a second issuing authority of the second currency.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the received request comprises modifications to several data accounts in the plurality of data accounts;   the multiple validation servers collectively form a first validator of a plurality of validators;   each of the plurality of validators is associated with a different asset; and   the method further comprises determining a plurality of identities for the plurality of validators based on the received request, each of the plurality of validators configured to validate the request.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the multiple validation servers are configured to determine whether to validate the request based on:
 retrieving a published balance from the distributed ledger for the selected account and the at least one asset;   computing an available balance by reducing the published balance by shadow balances associated with pending and reserved payments;   approving the request when the available balance is greater than or equal to a transaction amount of the request; and   rejecting the request when the available balance is less than the transaction amount of the request.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the multiple validation servers are configured to store the shadow balances associated with the pending and reserved payments and the redundant copy of the distributed ledger. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the multiple validation servers are configured to determine whether to validate the request based on:
 verifying whether a party associated with the selected account is authorized to perform the request.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the redundant copy of the distributed ledger is encrypted to prevent the multiple validation servers from accessing data for an asset different from the at least one asset. 
     
     
         36 . A system comprising:
 a memory configured to store a distributed ledger having a plurality of accounts; and   control circuitry configured to:
 receive a request to modify an account selected from the plurality of accounts, wherein the selected account is associated with at least one asset; 
 determine an identity of multiple validation servers associated with the at least one asset based on the received request, wherein the multiple validation servers are configured to validate the request; 
 modify the distributed ledger in response to the multiple validation servers validating the request, wherein each of the multiple validation servers is configured to store a redundant copy of the distributed ledger; 
 send at least one modified portion of the distributed ledger to each of the multiple validation servers, wherein each of the multiple validation servers is configured to update its respective redundant copy of the distributed ledger with the at least one modified portion of the distributed ledger; and 
 control the multiple validation servers in order to distribute a processing load associated with validating transactions that include the request between the multiple validation servers; 
   wherein the redundant copy of the distributed ledger at each of the multiple validation servers is a partial redundant copy of the distributed ledger.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to encrypt the plurality of accounts in the distributed ledger differently so that a decryption process used by the multiple validation servers to access data of a first type of asset cannot be used to access data of a second type of asset. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the distributed ledger is modified to process a payment transaction or a deposit transaction;   the at least one asset corresponds to a security; and   the multiple validation servers belong to an issuing authority of the security.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the issuing authority of the security is a proxy for a central bank that issues a currency or a bond issuer that issues a bond. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the multiple validation servers collectively form a first validator;   the at least one asset comprises a first asset and a second asset; and   the control circuitry is further configured to determine an identity of a second validator based on the received request, the second validator configured to validate the request for the second asset.   
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein:
 the distributed ledger is modified to process a foreign exchange transaction;   the first asset corresponds to a first currency;   the second asset corresponds to a second currency;   the first validator comprises multiple first computing devices that correspond to a first issuing authority of the first currency; and   the second validator comprises at least one second computing device that corresponds to a second issuing authority of the second currency.   
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the received request comprises modifications to several accounts in the plurality of accounts;   the multiple validation servers collectively form a first validator of a plurality of validators;   each of the plurality of validators is associated with a different asset; and   the control circuitry is further configured to determine a plurality of identities for the plurality of validators based on the received request, each of the plurality of validators configured to validate the request.   
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the multiple validation servers are configured to determine whether to validate the request by being configured to:
 retrieve a published balance from the distributed ledger for the selected account and the at least one asset;   compute an available balance by reducing the published balance by shadow balances associated with pending and reserved payments;   approve the request when the available balance is greater than or equal to a transaction amount of the request; and   reject the request when the available balance is less than the transaction amount of the request.   
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the multiple validation servers are configured to store the shadow balances associated with the pending and reserved payments and the redundant copy of the distributed ledger. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the multiple validation servers are configured to determine whether to validate the request by being configured to verify whether a party associated with the selected account is authorized to perform the request. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the redundant copy of the distributed ledger is encrypted to prevent the multiple validation servers from accessing data for an asset different from the at least one asset.