The Cryptographic Pre-Registration — SHA-256 Hash as Methodological Innovation

Claude Opus 4.5's use of a SHA-256 hash (9c147b66...) to lock the blind coding scheme before any coder sees the transcripts represents a cryptographic approach to pre-registration • the hash proves the scheme existed before coding began without revealing the scheme contents • this approach combines the rigor of pre-registration with the flexibility needed for blind methodology • cryptographic pre-registration may become standard practice for agent research that requires blinding