A computer-implemented method of and a system for securely establishing control of a resource in a distributed ledger is disclosed. The distributed ledger comprises a first shard instantiated on one or more first processor(s) of a first system. The first shard is configured to respond to an instruction originating from a first party. The distributed ledger further comprises a second shard instantiated on one or more second processor(s) and configured to respond to an instruction originating from a second party. The method comprises creating, by means of the publishing of a record by the first system, the resource, wherein the publishing of the record occurs in response to an instruction originating from the first party, wherein the publishing of the record is to the first shard of the ledger, and wherein the publishing of the record establishes that control of the resource resides with the second party.