Tezos Developers Test Quantum-Resistant Blockchain Privacy System

As advances in quantum technology could eventually undermine existing blockchain privacy systems, the developers behind the Tezos ecosystem launched a testnet prototype of private blockchain payments designed to withstand future quantum computing attacks.

The prototype, called TzL, uses post-quantum cryptography and zk-STARK authentication to protect transaction data and encrypted payment metadata that would otherwise be vulnerable to “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks, when encrypted blockchain data is decrypted in the future, according to Tezos.

The prototype uses Tezos' Data Availability Layer to handle the large proof volumes associated with post-quantum cryptography, which developers say is one of the main technical hurdles to building a scalable quantum-resistant privacy system on-chain.

Source: Tezos

According to the project's white paper, the quantum-resistant zk-STARK proofs used by TzEL are about 300 KB in size, significantly larger than the privacy proofs commonly used in existing blockchain systems.

TzEL currently runs on the Tezos testnet and remains in development, while the wider Tezos (XTZ) ecosystem is still in the early stages of its transition to post-quantum cryptography.

RELATED: Accelerated Quantum Correction Could Return For Bitcoin, Samson Mou Warns

The crypto industry is stepping up post-quantum security efforts

The crypto industry stepped up efforts to prepare for quantum computing threats in April as concerns over the long-term security of blockchain encryption systems grew.

Two major proof-of-concept clients on the Solana (SOL) network have introduced a trial version of a post-quantum signature system called Falcon, which aims to protect the blockchain from future quantum threats while reducing performance errors.

Meanwhile, MARA Holdings has launched the MARA Foundation to support the development of the Bitcoin network, including research into quantum-resistant security measures.

Source: MARA Holdings

Coinbase researchers also appeared more prepared for the quantum threat, citing efforts by Algorand ( ALGO ) and Aptos ( APT ) to integrate quantum-resistant cryptography into their networks.

However, the researchers cautioned that authentication blockchains could be highly vulnerable to quantum computing risks due to the signature systems used by network verifiers.

According to Bernstein researchers, the crypto industry has around three to five years to transition to quantum-resistant encryption standards before quantum computing becomes a threat to Bitcoin (BTC) security.

But not everyone agrees. In May, early cypherpunk and Bitcoin contributor Adam Back said that computers capable of breaking Bitcoin signatures were probably at least 20 years away.

Magazine: Kraken's $600m stablecoin firm, Huione scandal deepens: Asia Express