In a patent filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on July 17th, Wells Fargo outlined their plans to tokenize certain types of data in order to increase the security and efficiency of select pieces of data chosen by users.

The patent comes after a long and brutal attack on cryptocurrencies by the San Francisco based bank and shows that their dislike is not towards the underlying technology of cryptocurrencies, but rather cryptocurrencies themselves. In recent months, Wells Fargo, along with several other banks, placed a ban on buying cryptocurrencies using one of their credit cards.

Wells Fargo’s hatred towards cryptocurrencies didn’t start there. In April of 2017, the bank was sued by cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex for not allowing cryptocurrency investors to move money from the exchange back to the bank.

Although the bank clearly views cryptocurrencies as a threat to their business model, as most banks do, they also clearly see merit in some of the technologies that cryptocurrencies are based off of.

The patent explains a system in which users could pick and choose which data linked to their account is tokenized, which would allow for significantly greater security.

The abstract explains a system in which users would choose a value to be replaced by a token, with a similar, yet more secure, structure. If a user were to replace data such as their bank account number, or routing number, a token would be created with the same size and value of the data replaced. Payment systems could then process the tokens as real data while protecting the information.

The tokens would be assigned through a system called a Tokenization Service Provider (TSP). The TSP would handle all the requests to tokenize, or detokenize, information. The TSP would also allow Wells Fargo to tokenize all types of information, including image files, text files, or video files. The TSP would allow users to have complete control of what parts of their information is tokenized.

Wells Fargo’s move to use more advanced technologies that are commonly associated with cryptocurrencies comes after multiple other banks and financial service providers, including JPMorgan and Mastercard, made similar moves to stay competitive and relevant.