The cryptocurrency industry continues to capture global attention just recently, Tether announced the launch of its new U.S. stablecoin, USAT, signaling a fresh wave of innovation in the digital asset market (read more here). This momentum is mirrored in the intellectual property space, where nChain leads global cryptocurrency patent filings over the past five years, followed by State Grid, IBM, Intel, and Huawei.
How many patents does filed by top Cryptocurrency companies?
The leading Cryptocurrency companies has filed a total of 2108 patents globally. These patents belong to 914 unique patent families. Out of 2108 patents, 1900 patents are active.
Which companies are leading Cryptocurrency patent filing?
When we look at who is leading, nChain clearly takes the top spot, showing how aggressively it is building its blockchain patent portfolio. Right behind are State Grid, IBM, Intel, and Huawei, proving that this is not just a startup game big tech and global players are just as invested in crypto innovation. The presence of Chinese companies like State Grid also highlights China’s major push to lead blockchain development at a global scale.
Patents Legal Status of Leading Companies in Cryptocurrency
Patent Filing Trend of Leading Companies of Cryptocurrency?
nChain peaked in 2018 with 374 filings and has maintained steady activity since, reflecting a consistent focus on blockchain IP. State Grid of China has steadily increased filings since 2020, with a sharp rise in 2022–2023, highlighting growing investment in crypto technology. IBM and Intel were most active around 2020–2021 but have slowed in recent years, signaling a more selective filing approach.
Huawei’s activity has gradually declined since 2019, indicating a shift in priorities. Overall, filings were highest between 2018 and 2021, and companies are now focusing on refining their portfolios rather than filing at the same pace.
Are you wondering why there is a drop in patent filing for the last two years? It is because a patent application can take up to 18 months to get published. Certainly, it doesn’t suggest a decrease in the patent filing.
Worldwide Patent Filing by Leading Companies of Cryptocurrency
Most of these patents are filed in China, the U.S., and Europe (EPO), which are traditionally the largest and most important markets for protection and enforcement. However, it’s worth noting that China has recently imposed strict regulations and effectively banned cryptocurrency trading and mining. This step is likely to influence how companies approach filings there focusing less on direct commercialization and more on strategic IP positioning, defensive filings, and future-proofing in case regulations loosen over time.
There are also filings in a few emerging markets, suggesting that companies are still looking to secure an early-mover advantage where crypto adoption is growing steadily.
Patent Technology Bifurcation of Cryptocurrency
As we know, what matters most in digital transactions is trust and security and the top crypto companies are clearly focused on the same. Security and privacy lead the way with the highest number of patents, showing how much effort is going into making systems safer.
This is followed by blockchain and distributed ledger technology and data processing and transmission, which are key to improving performance and reliability. Companies are also investing in cloud infrastructure, payment architecture, and digital assets, signaling a shift toward making crypto systems scalable, efficient, and ready for broader adoption.
Leading Companies Technology Bifurcation of Cryptocurrency
How Cryptocurrency Research Focus Changed Over the Years?
The chart below distributes patents filed in Cryptocurrency in different countries on the basis of the technology protected in patents. It also represents the markets where leading companies thinks it’s important to protect particular technology inventions.
Go beyond the numbers and request a customized competitive insights report to benchmark your competitors, compare crypto innovation with Fintech, AI, and payments, uncover under-patented markets and emerging research clusters, and gain forward-looking insights into where R&D and IP activity is heading helping you stay ahead of the curve.
