A computer implemented method is provided for creating and using a secret zero by multiple participants in a group. The secret zero is representative of a master secret that protects other secrets. The method includes creating, by a computing device of each participant, a message comprising a second public key, a commitment to a polynomial, a plurality of encrypted private key shares assigned to the other participants, a plurality of signatures associated with the private key shares assigned to the other participants, and a commitment of a symmetric key. The method also includes broadcasting, by the computing device of each participant, an encrypted version of the message to the group of participants. The method further includes broadcasting, by the computing device of each participant, the symmetric key to the group after all other participants have completed broadcasting their messages.