Authorization of use of cryptographic keys

Abstract

Examples herein involve authorization of use of cryptographic keys based on cryptocurrency payments. An example method includes analyzing a request for a cryptographic key of a key server where the request may be received from a requesting device and the cryptographic key is used to decrypt or encrypt a message of the request, and authorizing use of the cryptographic key to decrypt or encrypt the message based on a balance in a cryptocurrency wallet associated with the request.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus comprising:
 a request receiver to receive a request at a key server for a cryptographic key, the cryptographic key to encrypt or decrypt a message of the request, the request received from a requesting device;   a wallet manager to determine a state of a cryptocurrency wallet associated with the request, the state indicating whether threshold crypto-payments have been made to the key server for the message; and   a key authorizer to authorize use of the cryptographic key based on the state of the cryptocurrency wallet.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the threshold crypto-payments correspond to a threshold balance to use the cryptographic key. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the threshold crypto-payments correspond to a time period to use the cryptographic key. 
     
     
         14 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 the wallet manager to withdraw funds from the cryptocurrency wallet associated with the request in response to the cryptographic key being used to decrypt or encrypt the message.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 the wallet manager to identify the cryptocurrency wallet based on the request.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 the wallet manager to identify the cryptocurrency wallet for the request based on an identifier of the message indicated in the request.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the cryptocurrency wallet is identified in a database based on an identifier of the message. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:
 receive a request at a key server for a cryptographic key, the cryptographic key to encrypt or decrypt a message of the request, the request received from a requesting device;   determine a state of a cryptocurrency wallet associated with the request, the state indicating whether threshold crypto-payments have been made to the key server for the message; and   authorize use of the cryptographic key based on the state of the cryptocurrency wallet.   
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the threshold crypto-payments correspond to a threshold balance to use the cryptographic key. 
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the threshold crypto-payments correspond to a time period to use the cryptographic key. 
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to at least: withdraw funds from the cryptocurrency wallet associated with the request in response to the cryptographic key being used to decrypt or encrypt the message. 
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as defined in  claim 20 , further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to at least:
 identify the cryptocurrency wallet based on the request.   
     
     
         25 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as defined in  claim 20 , further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to at least:
 identify the cryptocurrency wallet for the request based on an identifier of the message indicated in the request.   
     
     
         26 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the cryptocurrency wallet is identified in a database based on an identifier of the message. 
     
     
         27 . A method comprising:
 receiving a request at a key server for a cryptographic key, the cryptographic key to encrypt or decrypt a message of the request, the request received from a requesting device;   determining a state of a cryptocurrency wallet associated with the request, the state indicating whether threshold crypto-payments have been made to the key server for the message; and   authorizing use of the cryptographic key based on the state of the cryptocurrency wallet.   
     
     
         28 . The method as defined in  claim 27 , wherein the threshold crypto-payments correspond to a threshold balance to use the cryptographic key. 
     
     
         29 . The method as defined in  claim 27 , wherein the threshold crypto-payments correspond to a time period to use the cryptographic key. 
     
     
         30 . The method as defined in  claim 27 , further comprising:
 withdrawing funds from the cryptocurrency wallet associated with the request in response to the cryptographic key being used to decrypt or encrypt the message.   
     
     
         31 . The method as defined in  claim 27 , further comprising:
 identifying the cryptocurrency wallet based on the request.   
     
     
         32 . The method as defined in  claim 27 , further comprising:
 identifying the cryptocurrency wallet for the request based on an identifier of the message indicated in the request.