A method of controlling and coordinating of processing steps in a distributed system is disclosed. The method may be implemented by a node in a cyclically ordered set of nodes in a blockchain network. The method includes receiving, from an immediately subsequent node, values corresponding to combinations of possible outcomes of processing steps associated with nodes from that node to a node preceding a supervisor node. The values are based on public keys associated with the nodes corresponding to possible outputs and the supervisor's public key. State values are generated based on the values and public keys corresponding to the possible outcomes further to a processing step of the node shared with the supervisor and a previous node. A blockchain transaction is prepared to transmit control of a resource from the node to the subsequent node upon supply of unlocking values corresponding to the received values.