A computer-implemented method comprising: by way of a first computer node, reading a private data store associated with the first computer node and/or reading a distributed ledger maintained by a network of computers, which includes the first computer node, to confirm a first digital asset recorded on a distributed ledger is unlocked and can be transferred from the first computer node in the network to a second computer node in the network; by way of the first computer node, generating a first proposed digital lock related to the first digital asset, the first proposed digital lock cryptographically signed by a cryptographic signature of the first computer node, the first proposed digital lock including a first inactive digital lock comprising a code segment for activating the inactive digital lock executable by the second computer node, a code segment for transferring the digital asset locked by the activated digital lock executable by the second computer node, and a code segment for deactivating the activated digital lock; by way of the first computer node, sending the first proposed digital lock to the second computer node in the network; executing, by way of the second computer node, the code segment for activating the digital lock using a cryptographic signature of the second computer node, wherein the active digital lock commits the first and second computer nodes to a transaction that transfers the first digital asset from the first computer node to the second computer node and prevents the first computer node from transferring ownership of the first digital asset except for purposes of settling the transaction; storing, by way of the first computer node, the first activated digital lock in the private data store; transmitting, by way of the first computer node, the first activated digital lock for recordation in the distributed ledger; validating, by way of the first computer node, that the first activated digital lock conforms to the first inactive digital lock included with the first proposed digital lock; and reading, by way of the first computer node, the distributed ledger to confirm the distributed ledger includes a cryptographic record of the first activated digital lock; executing, by way of the second computer node, the code segment for transferring the digital asset using the cryptographic signature of the second computer node, whereby the first digital asset is transferred from the first computer node to the second computer node; along with or subsequent to transferring the first digital asset, deactivating the activated digital lock by executing the code segment of the proposed digital lock to deactivate the digital lock. by way of a first computer node, reading a private data store associated with the first computer node and/or reading a distributed ledger maintained by a network of computers, which includes the first computer node, to confirm a first digital asset recorded on a distributed ledger is unlocked and can be transferred from the first computer node in the network to a second computer node in the network; by way of the first computer node, generating a first proposed digital lock related to the first digital asset, the first proposed digital lock cryptographically signed by a cryptographic signature of the first computer node, the first proposed digital lock including a first inactive digital lock comprising a code segment for activating the inactive digital lock executable by the second computer node, a code segment for transferring the digital asset locked by the activated digital lock executable by the second computer node, and a code segment for deactivating the activated digital lock; by way of the first computer node, sending the first proposed digital lock to the second computer node in the network; executing, by way of the second computer node, the code segment for activating the digital lock using a cryptographic signature of the second computer node, wherein the active digital lock commits the first and second computer nodes to a transaction that transfers the first digital asset from the first computer node to the second computer node and prevents the first computer node from transferring ownership of the first digital asset except for purposes of settling the transaction; storing, by way of the first computer node, the first activated digital lock in the private data store; transmitting, by way of the first computer node, the first activated digital lock for recordation in the distributed ledger; validating, by way of the first computer node, that the first activated digital lock conforms to the first inactive digital lock included with the first proposed digital lock; and reading, by way of the first computer node, the distributed ledger to confirm the distributed ledger includes a cryptographic record of the first activated digital lock; executing, by way of the second computer node, the code segment for transferring the digital asset using the cryptographic signature of the second computer node, whereby the first digital asset is transferred from the first computer node to the second computer node; along with or subsequent to transferring the first digital asset, deactivating the activated digital lock by executing the code segment of the proposed digital lock to deactivate the digital lock.