A method and system is provided for implementing a multilateral
authorization quorum in a computer network. The authorization quorum
comprises a total number of stakeholders out of which a threshold number
of stakeholders can provide a multilateral authorization. To implement
this multilateral authorization quorum, one or more access sets is first
determined, each containing the threshold number of stakeholders. Since
the stakeholders split a quorum private key, the shares of the quorum
private key for each stakeholder in all access sets are determined. The
shares of the private key held by the stakeholders in any one access set
add up to a number directly related to the private key. One or more
secret keys of the stakeholders are further determined for each access
set. One or more polynomials for the access sets are then generated by
using the shares of the private key and the secret keys thereof, wherein
the private key is thus split among the stakeholders of the multilateral
authorization quorum. Such a multilateral authorization quorum is ready
to be used for making approvals for predetermined transactions.