diff --git a/lib/util.py b/lib/util.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7c2fca5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/util.py
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+import json
+
+
+def parse_anchor_from_message(message):
+    message_json = json.loads(message)
+    return message_json['anchor']