{"id":14445,"date":"2025-02-22T02:03:06","date_gmt":"2025-02-22T02:03:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/?p=14445"},"modified":"2025-02-22T02:03:06","modified_gmt":"2025-02-22T02:03:06","slug":"hoskinson-charts-cardanos-three-step-path-to-quantum-resistance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dogewisperer.com\/?p=14445","title":{"rendered":"Hoskinson Charts Cardano\u2019s Three-Step Path To Quantum Resistance"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In a livestream broadcast titled \u201cPost-Quantum Cardano,\u201d ADA founder Charles Hoskinson laid out a roadmap for making the blockchain quantum-resistant. His remarks come amid rapid developments in quantum computing hardware, including breakthroughs from Microsoft<\/a> and other tech heavyweights, as well as newly released US government standards for post-quantum cryptography.<\/p>\n

Hoskinson opened the session<\/a> by highlighting the accelerating pace of progress in quantum computing: \u201cThe quantum computer world is heating up quite a bit, and a lot of magical amazing things are happening\u2026 It is my belief that in 5\u201310 years we\u2019ll probably make substantial progress to the point where we really have to start thinking about updating and modernizing the cryptography.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also pointed to the recent actions by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which, in August 2024, finalized several post-quantum encryption standards to begin guiding the industry forward: \u201cTurns out it\u2019s not just my belief\u2014it\u2019s the United States government\u2019s belief as well [\u2026] The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) proactively got together [\u2026] and they created some standards.\u201d<\/p>\n

NIST has published new Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) numbered 203, 204, 205, and 206, which define algorithms intended to resist quantum attacks. Hoskinson noted the significance of this for the global cryptographic community, as these standards will likely spur hardware manufacturers to incorporate specialized circuitry that can handle post-quantum algorithms more efficiently.<\/p>\n

Currently, Cardano\u2019s security model\u2014like most major blockchains\u2014relies heavily on elliptic curve cryptography. Hoskinson warned that Shor\u2019s algorithm, which can run on large-scale quantum computers, poses a theoretical threat to such elliptic curve systems:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe problem is we have this thing called Shor\u2019s algorithm [\u2026] if you have a quantum computer, it can kill the security of that [elliptic curve] [\u2026] So what a lot of people in the blockchain space do is they say, \u2018Oh well, we got a post-quantum signature scheme, so we\u2019re good.\u2019 But that couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n

He stressed that security in a post-quantum world extends beyond just swapping one signature scheme for another. Instead, blockchains must define comprehensive security models that consider what kind of adversaries they will face\u2014an adversary with a quantum computer also has capabilities like side-channel attacks, hardware infiltration, or even \u201coffline\u201d brute force attempts against older, stored data.<\/p>\n

The Three-Step Plan For Cardano<\/h2>\n

Hoskinson laid out a clear, three-phase approach for transitioning Cardano into a fully quantum-resistant system over the coming years.<\/p>\n

1. Develop A Quantum-Secure Model<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cardano\u2019s foundational cryptographic protocols must be audited against a \u201ccanonical quantum adversary.\u201d This means systematically reviewing every algorithm for potential vulnerabilities once a capable quantum computer emerges.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst, we have to develop a Quantum secure model for Cardano, end to end, so we would audit all the algorithms Cardano is using and ask which ones are vulnerable [\u2026] That in itself is an interesting question, because there are various opinions in the cryptographic community about what we should assume a quantum adversary can do,\u201d Hoskinson said.<\/p>\n

2. Separate Cardano Into Two Chains<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hoskinson next proposed creating a separate, post-quantum proof chain\u2014a \u201cmeta\u201d layer that can serve as an immutable checkpoint system for Cardano\u2019s main chain. \u201cYou want to separate Cardano into two pieces: there\u2019s Cardano [main chain] [\u2026] then we have a proof chain [\u2026] basically it runs as an audit log of history so you have an unforgeable system with signatures related to the original history. Over time, this can become a programmable proof chain.\u201d<\/p>\n

He pointed to Mithril<\/a>\u2014Cardano\u2019s existing technology for generating compact certificates of state\u2014as a potential starting point. Updating Mithril with a post-quantum signature scheme would create a secure companion to the classical elliptic curve-based main chain without immediately disrupting its performance.<\/p>\n

Hoskinson also mentioned new innovations like lattice fold plus\u2014a compact \u201cfolding scheme\u201d from researchers Dan Boneh and Binyu Chen\u2014that could offer powerful cryptographic proof tools for this future proof chain.<\/p>\n

3. Full Integration<\/strong><\/p>\n

Finally, once the new proof chain matures and post-quantum schemes become more efficient (and gain hardware support), Cardano can merge these elements into the main chain. \u201cThen the third phase is eventual integration [\u2026] as the PQSS schemes get more advanced plus we develop a post-quantum VRF [\u2026] we can put that into the chain and merge the meta chain and the main chain together.\u201d<\/p>\n

This last phase would require substantial redesign of Cardano\u2019s core protocols, possibly reconsidering the extended UTXO model<\/a> and incorporating new authenticated data structures or ledger architectures.<\/p>\n

Hoskinson cautioned that post-quantum algorithms are typically 5\u201310 times slower and yield larger signatures than their classical elliptic curve counterparts. However, he expressed optimism that hardware manufacturers\u2014prompted by NIST\u2019s finalized standards\u2014will incorporate specialized circuitry to speed up these new cryptographic techniques.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had to wait for NIST to say, \u2018Yo dawg, we have standards now,\u2019 [\u2026] because now that they\u2019re here, hardware manufacturers will start building custom capabilities to speed [post-quantum signature schemes] up,\u201d Hoskinson remarked.<\/p>\n

He also clarified that no algorithm remains secure forever in the face of continuous advances in computing. This dynamic \u201ccat and mouse\u201d reality is common in cryptography: \u201cQuantum computers are just another bomb, and the Enigma machine is the classical crypto [\u2026] It\u2019s an eternal journey and they\u2019re never going to stop.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Hoskinson, the timeframe for Cardano\u2019s transition will likely span several years:<\/p>\n