Multi-Party Computation

Multi-party computation (MPC) is a cryptographic technology that allows multiple groups to run a program together. Instead of one computer doing the processing, numerous distributed computers work together in a private and protected way.

Gridlock ensures security by preventing any one entity from controlling all of the keys required to sign a transaction. They collectively have the whole key, but each only has a small piece, and the transaction must collect enough of them to work. That way, even if one of your devices gets hacked, you are safe because the attacker will have to hack a lot of other nodes in the network to get your secured assets.

Gridlock uses MPC in conjunction with Threshold Signatures technology to protect transactions. Threshold Singatures enables the wallet to sign a transaction using a subset of key shares, so even if some of the shares are lost or stolen, the wallet stays safe and operational.