{"id":235074,"date":"2022-05-21T11:32:13","date_gmt":"2022-05-21T10:32:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/?post_type=crypto_glossary&p=235074"},"modified":"2026-08-31T18:19:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T17:19:53","slug":"htlc","status":"publish","type":"crypto_glossary","link":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/glossary\/htlc\/","title":{"rendered":"HTLC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Short for “Hashed TimeLock Contract.” A type of smart contract that reduces risk by creating a time-based escrow that unlocks with a cryptographic passphrase.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Short for “Hashed TimeLock Contract.” A type of smart contract that reduces risk by creating a time-based escrow that unlocks with a cryptographic passphrase.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":76,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_cryptoslate_glossary_part_of_speech":"initialism","_cryptoslate_glossary_phonetic_spelling":"H-T-L-C","_cryptoslate_glossary_example_sentences":["The atomic swap used an HTLC so both sides had to complete the trade before the deadline.","A hashed time-lock contract releases funds when the correct secret is provided.","If the HTLC expired without completion, the sender could reclaim the locked assets.","Lightning Network payments use HTLCs to route value across multiple channels.","The shared hash linked the two transactions secured by the HTLC."]},"glossary_topic":[83430,83429,83437],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHTLC | CryptoSlate<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/glossary\/htlc\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"HTLC | CryptoSlate\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Short for “Hashed TimeLock Contract.” A type of smart contract that reduces risk by creating a time-based escrow that unlocks with a cryptographic passphrase.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/glossary\/htlc\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"CryptoSlate\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-31T17:19:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/cover-glossary-term.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"675\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@cryptoslate\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"ItemPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/glossary\/htlc\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/glossary\/htlc\/\",\"name\":\"HTLC | CryptoSlate\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2022-05-21T10:32:13+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-31T17:19:53+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/glossary\/htlc\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/glossary\/htlc\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/glossary\/htlc\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Glossary\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/glossary\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"HTLC\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/\",\"name\":\"CryptoSlate\",\"description\":\"Cryptocurrency News and Real-time Coin Data\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/#organization\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"NewsMediaOrganization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"CryptoSlate\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/c-logo.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/c-logo.jpg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":1000,\"caption\":\"CryptoSlate\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/cryptoslate\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/cryptoslate\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/cryptoslate\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/cryptoslate\",\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.substack.com\",\"https:\/\/t.me\/cryptoslatenews\",\"https:\/\/www.crunchbase.com\/organization\/cryptoslate\",\"https:\/\/iq.wiki\/wiki\/cryptoslate\",\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqKggKIiRDQklTRlFnTWFoRUtEMk55ZVhCMGIzTnNZWFJsTG1OdmJTZ0FQAQ\",\"https:\/\/muckrack.com\/media-outlet\/cryptoslate\",\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@cryptoslatenews\"],\"publishingPrinciples\":\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/disclaimers\/editorial-policy\/#editorial-principles\",\"ownershipFundingInfo\":\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/disclaimers\/how-cryptoslate-makes-and-spends-money\/\",\"correctionsPolicy\":\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/disclaimers\/editorial-policy\/#corrections-feedback\",\"ethicsPolicy\":\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/disclaimers\/editorial-policy\/#editorial-principles\",\"foundingDate\":\"2017-08-04\",\"founder\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Nate Whitehill\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Matthew Blancarte\"}],\"contactPoint\":[{\"@type\":\"ContactPoint\",\"contactType\":\"customer support\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/contact\/\",\"availableLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ContactPoint\",\"contactType\":\"sales\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/advertising\/\",\"availableLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ContactPoint\",\"contactType\":\"newsroom\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/disclaimers\/editorial-policy\/#corrections-feedback\",\"email\":\"tips@cryptoslate.com\",\"availableLanguage\":\"en-US\"}],\"masthead\":\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/about\/#masthead\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"HTLC | CryptoSlate","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/glossary\/htlc\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"HTLC | CryptoSlate","og_description":"Short for “Hashed TimeLock Contract.” A type of smart contract that reduces risk by creating a time-based escrow that unlocks with a cryptographic passphrase.","og_url":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/glossary\/htlc\/","og_site_name":"CryptoSlate","article_modified_time":"2026-08-31T17:19:53+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":675,"url":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/cover-glossary-term.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@cryptoslate","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":["WebPage","ItemPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/glossary\/htlc\/","url":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/glossary\/htlc\/","name":"HTLC | CryptoSlate","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/#website"},"datePublished":"2022-05-21T10:32:13+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-31T17:19:53+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/glossary\/htlc\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/glossary\/htlc\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/glossary\/htlc\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Glossary","item":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/glossary\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"HTLC"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/","name":"CryptoSlate","description":"Cryptocurrency News and Real-time Coin Data","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/#organization"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"NewsMediaOrganization","@id":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/#organization","name":"CryptoSlate","url":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/c-logo.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/c-logo.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"caption":"CryptoSlate"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/twitter.com\/cryptoslate","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/cryptoslate","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/cryptoslate","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/cryptoslate","https:\/\/cryptoslate.substack.com","https:\/\/t.me\/cryptoslatenews","https:\/\/www.crunchbase.com\/organization\/cryptoslate","https:\/\/iq.wiki\/wiki\/cryptoslate","https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqKggKIiRDQklTRlFnTWFoRUtEMk55ZVhCMGIzTnNZWFJsTG1OdmJTZ0FQAQ","https:\/\/muckrack.com\/media-outlet\/cryptoslate","https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@cryptoslatenews"],"publishingPrinciples":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/disclaimers\/editorial-policy\/#editorial-principles","ownershipFundingInfo":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/disclaimers\/how-cryptoslate-makes-and-spends-money\/","correctionsPolicy":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/disclaimers\/editorial-policy\/#corrections-feedback","ethicsPolicy":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/disclaimers\/editorial-policy\/#editorial-principles","foundingDate":"2017-08-04","founder":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Nate Whitehill"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Matthew Blancarte"}],"contactPoint":[{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactType":"customer support","url":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/contact\/","availableLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactType":"sales","url":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/advertising\/","availableLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactType":"newsroom","url":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/disclaimers\/editorial-policy\/#corrections-feedback","email":"tips@cryptoslate.com","availableLanguage":"en-US"}],"masthead":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/about\/#masthead"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/crypto_glossary\/235074"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/crypto_glossary"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/crypto_glossary"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/76"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=235074"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/crypto_glossary\/235074\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":235075,"href":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/crypto_glossary\/235074\/revisions\/235075"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=235074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"glossary_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossary_topic?post=235074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}