Blockchain Patent Trends 2025: Prior Art Search Guide
Updated on Dec. 5, 2025 | Written by Patsnap Team
Disclaimer: Please note that the information below is limited to publicly available information as of December 2025. This includes information on company websites, patent databases, and industry reports. We will continue to update this information as it becomes available and we welcome any feedback.
The blockchain patent landscape presents unique challenges for IP attorneys and law firms conducting prior art searches. Between 2013 and 2023, approximately 14,000 blockchain-related patent applications were filed at the USPTO, with nearly 10,000 patents granted. Yet patentability challenges under Section 101 remain persistent—approximately 560 applications were abandoned after Alice rejections over the past decade.
For patent professionals advising fintech and DeFi clients, understanding these trends is essential. The blockchain patent market, valued at $228 million in 2020, is projected to reach $703 million by 2025—a 25.3% CAGR reflecting the technology’s expanding commercial significance.
Key Takeaways
- Filings peaked in 2021: Global blockchain patent applications have declined since, requiring more strategic patent search approaches.
- Section 101 is the primary obstacle: PTAB appeals have a 97.3% failure rate for Alice challenges—work with examiners directly instead.
- China dominates global filings: With 68% of granted patents, Chinese databases are essential for comprehensive prior art coverage.
- Security patents lead: Over 7,300 patent families focus on security and privacy—the largest blockchain IP cluster.
- AI accelerates search efficiency: Patsnap’s analytics platform helps navigate complex landscapes across 170+ million global patents.
Understanding the Blockchain Patent Landscape
Blockchain technology has evolved beyond cryptocurrency into supply chain, digital identity, smart contracts, and healthcare applications. The top U.S. patent holders—Advanced New Technologies, IBM (790 patents), and Bank of America—have built substantial portfolios. Tencent leads globally with 318 granted patents.
This guide covers critical patent classifications, Alice/Mayo challenges, and best practices for blockchain patent searches in 2025. For additional patent analytics resources, visit the Patsnap resources blog.
Key Steps in Blockchain Prior Art Searches
1. Identify Relevant Patent Classifications
Blockchain patents span multiple CPC codes:
- G06Q20/00: Payment architectures and protocols
- H04L9/00: Secret/secure communications; network security
- H04L2209/00: Cryptographic mechanisms
- G06F21/00: Security arrangements for computers/data
Many patents are cross-classified. Patsnap’s cross-classification search identifies patents spanning multiple technology domains.
2. Assess Section 101 Patentability Risks
The Alice-Mayo framework creates significant hurdles. Of 38 blockchain-related PTAB appeals on §101 rejections, only one fully succeeded—a 97.3% failure rate. The effective strategy: resolve issues with examiners through claim amendments rather than appeals.
3. Expand Geographic Search Scope
| Jurisdiction | Patents + Pending | Key Applicants |
|---|---|---|
| China | 34,562+ | Ant Group, Tencent, Ping An |
| United States | 8,759+ | IBM, Bank of America |
| South Korea | 4,035+ | Samsung, Coinplug |
China’s application-to-approval ratios suggest quality variations. Search both granted patents and published applications using global patent databases.
4. Cover Technology Subcategories
Key innovation clusters include:
- Security & Privacy: 7,300+ patent families
- Payment & Transactions: 2,854+ families
- Smart Contracts: Automated execution protocols
- Consensus Mechanisms: Proof-of-work/stake variants
- DeFi: Lending, staking, yield protocols
5. Include Non-Patent Literature
Blockchain’s open-source origins mean significant prior art exists outside patent databases: Bitcoin whitepaper (2008), Ethereum documentation, IEEE/ACM publications, and GitHub repositories. Access comprehensive patent and literature databases for thorough coverage.
Comprehensive Blockchain Patent Guide for 2025
Cryptocurrency and Digital Asset Patents
These patents face heightened Alice scrutiny as financial transaction methods.
- Search CPC G06Q20/00 as primary classification
- Review patents from major exchanges (Coinbase, Binance)
- Claims must emphasize technical improvements over generic implementation
- Cross-reference with SEC regulatory filings
Smart Contract Patents
Patent activity focuses on contract languages, execution environments, and oracles.
- Include Ethereum Foundation publications for baseline prior art
- Search specific oracle implementations
- Claims should address gas optimization or cross-chain interoperability
- Use Patsnap’s semantic search for terminology variations
Supply Chain Patents
The Federal Circuit’s 2024 Rady decision invalidated blockchain provenance claims as abstract data gathering.
- Include CPC G06Q10/00 (administration/management)
- Search IoT sensor integration patents
- Demonstrate specific technical improvements to tracking mechanisms
- Review industry benchmarking data for competitive positioning
DeFi Patents
This emerging category faces significant Alice challenges due to parallels with traditional financial instruments.
- Search protocol names (Uniswap, Aave, Compound) in prior art
- Include academic literature on automated market makers
- Focus claims on novel technical implementations
- Review governance token mechanisms
Best Practices for Blockchain Patent Searches
- Start with semantic search. Terminology varies—”distributed ledger,” “decentralized database,” and “blockchain” describe similar technologies. AI-powered search identifies conceptually related patents.
- Document Alice-related claim language. Identify specific technical improvements. Generic “using blockchain” statements signal abstract idea vulnerability.
- Search both utility and method claims. Post-Alice, system claims face similar scrutiny as method claims.
- Review prosecution histories. Examine how similar patents overcame §101 rejections using patent family tracking tools.
- Monitor continuation applications. Major holders actively file continuations. Track families via trusted patent platforms.
- Consider standard-essential patents. Some blockchain technologies intersect with telecommunications standards (5G, IoT).
Conclusion: Strategic Insights for IP Professionals
The blockchain patent landscape in 2025 presents a maturing market. While filing volumes have declined from 2021 peaks, commercial importance continues growing. Three strategic imperatives emerge: Section 101 analysis must be central to any strategy (97.3% PTAB failure rate); geographic scope matters (China holds 68% of global grants); and technology convergence with AI and quantum computing creates search complexity.
Patsnap offers comprehensive patent intelligence for navigating blockchain landscapes. Our Analytics platform provides access to 170+ million patents globally with semantic search capabilities. The Eureka AI assistant accelerates prior art discovery while competitive benchmarking helps visualize market positioning. Learn how leading organizations leverage these capabilities.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What patent classifications are most relevant for blockchain prior art searches?
Blockchain patents span multiple Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) codes, requiring searches across interconnected technology domains. The most critical classifications include G06Q20/00 (payment architectures and protocols), which captures cryptocurrency transactions and digital wallet innovations. H04L9/00 (secret or secure communications; network security protocols) covers cryptographic foundations including encryption methods and digital signatures. H04L2209/00 provides additional granularity for specific cryptographic implementations common in blockchain systems. Effective searches should also include G06F21/00 (security arrangements for protecting computers or data) and G06Q10/00 (administration; management) for supply chain applications. Many significant blockchain patents are cross-classified—a smart contract patent might span payment systems and software architecture. Patsnap’s cross-classification analysis identifies patents spanning technology domains that single-class searches miss. The CPC Y section (emerging cross-sectional technologies) increasingly captures blockchain innovations, while telecommunications classifications (H04W) are relevant for IoT-integrated blockchain patents.
How does the Alice-Mayo test affect blockchain patent patentability?
The Supreme Court’s 2014 Alice v. CLS Bank decision fundamentally reshaped blockchain patent eligibility under 35 U.S.C. § 101. The framework establishes a two-step test: first, determining whether claims are “directed to” an abstract idea, and second, whether claims contain an “inventive concept” amounting to “significantly more.” For blockchain patents—often involving financial transactions or data management—this creates hurdles because these functions can be characterized as abstract ideas on generic computer hardware. USPTO data reveals significant impact: approximately 560 blockchain applications were abandoned after §101 rejections over the past decade. The PTAB has proven particularly difficult—of 38 blockchain-related appeals on §101 rejections, only one fully succeeded (97.3% failure rate). However, five failed PTAB appeals were later allowed through claim amendments with examiners, demonstrating direct negotiation is more effective than litigation. The USPTO’s 2019 Guidance (updated 2024) provides relief by allowing claims to be patent-eligible if they integrate an abstract idea into a “practical application.” Successful blockchain patents emphasize specific technical improvements—novel cryptographic methods, consensus algorithm optimizations, or network architecture innovations—rather than generic implementation.
How is AI transforming blockchain patent searches and analysis?
Artificial intelligence has transformed how IP professionals conduct blockchain prior art searches, addressing unique challenges from the technology’s interdisciplinary nature. Traditional keyword searches prove inadequate because identical technologies use different terminology—”distributed ledger,” “decentralized database,” and “blockchain” can describe similar inventions. AI-powered semantic search analyzes conceptual meaning rather than relying solely on keywords, identifying relevant prior art that manual searches miss. Machine learning algorithms process millions of patents simultaneously, recognizing cross-domain patterns requiring months of manual analysis. For blockchain, AI navigates intersections of cryptography, smart contracts, financial instruments, and network protocols—each with distinct patent landscapes. Natural language processing enables multilingual searches, critical given China’s dominant 68% share of global blockchain grants. AI also accelerates Section 101 analysis by identifying claim language patterns associated with successful patentability outcomes. Automated patent family tracking ensures continuation applications are captured. Patsnap’s platform delivers significant reductions in research time while improving comprehensiveness, enabling IP professionals to conduct more thorough analyses efficiently.
Information current as of December 2025. Patent data sourced from USPTO, EPO, CNIPA, and WIPO databases.
