Blockchain Prototype Achieves Quantum-Secure Signatures with Crystals-Dilithium, Falcon and Hawk

Researchers are urgently investigating the vulnerability of current blockchain technologies to future quantum computing threats. Tushar Jain from the Institute of Computer Science, University of Tartu, alongside colleagues, present a crucial performance analysis of quantum-secure digital signature algorithms within a functional blockchain prototype. Their work focuses on lattice-based schemes , CRYSTALS-Dilithium, Falcon and Hawk , and extends to HAETAE, offering a detailed comparison of key generation, signing, verification times, key and signature sizes. This research is significant because it proactively addresses the potential collapse of blockchain security should large-scale quantum computers become a reality, paving the way for genuinely quantum-resistant distributed ledger technologies.

Post-quantum cryptography secures blockchain prototype systems against future

Scientists have demonstrated a functional blockchain prototype supporting multiple quantum-secure signature algorithms, addressing the critical long-term security vulnerabilities of current blockchain systems. The research focuses on integrating post-quantum (PQ) cryptography into a blockchain environment, specifically examining CRYSTALS-Dilithium, Falcon, and Hawk as lattice-based schemes, to counter the threat posed by quantum computers capable of breaking existing elliptic-curve cryptography. This work establishes the feasibility of transitioning blockchains to quantum-resistant systems, safeguarding against potential forgery of transactions and manipulation of recorded data in the future. The team achieved this by implementing a local, single-node blockchain prototype designed to allow seamless switching between these three lattice-based signature schemes, effectively decoupling the application logic from the underlying cryptographic technique.
This innovative design enables a fair comparison of the algorithms from a blockchain perspective, meticulously measuring their impact on transaction signing costs, block verification times, and storage overhead through key and signature sizes. Experiments show that the prototype implements a single wallet and transaction model, ensuring that modifications to the signature scheme do not affect the core application functionality, providing a robust platform for performance analysis. This study reveals a detailed performance analysis encompassing key generation, signing, and verification times, alongside crucial metrics like key sizes and signature sizes, offering a comprehensive understanding of each algorithm’s suitability for blockchain integration. The research extends beyond simple micro-benchmarks, considering how these schemes behave within a complete blockchain implementation, accounting for factors like transaction volume, block size, and validation latency, critical considerations often overlooked in isolated cryptographic evaluations.

By combining micro-benchmark data with blockchain-level metrics, the team provides a holistic view of performance, identifying potential bottlenecks and trade-offs associated with each PQ signature scheme. The work opens avenues for further exploration of additional quantum-secure algorithms, such as HAETAE, and lays the groundwork for building truly quantum-resistant blockchain systems. The contributions of this preliminary report include a blockchain-like prototype enabling transparent switching between quantum-secure algorithms, a measuring approach for gathering both micro-benchmark and blockchain-level metrics, and a contextualisation of the research within the broader field of post-quantum blockchains. The full source code of the prototype blockchain and benchmarking scripts are publicly available, facilitating further research and development in this crucial area of cryptography and distributed systems.

PQ Signatures in a Blockchain Prototype demonstrate enhanced

Scientists initiated a study to assess the integration of post-quantum (PQ) digital signatures into blockchain systems. Researchers developed a blockchain prototype capable of supporting multiple quantum-secure signature algorithms, specifically focusing on CRYSTALS-Dilithium, Falcon, and Hawk as lattice-based schemes. The study pioneered a local, single-node blockchain prototype, enabling transparent switching between these algorithms by decoupling application logic from the underlying digital signature technique. This innovative design facilitates a fair comparison of the algorithms from a blockchain perspective, measuring their impact on transaction signing cost, block verification time, and storage overhead through key and signature sizes.

The team engineered a system where the cost of signature generation is evaluated within the context of transaction processing, block size limitations, and validation latency. Experiments employed a single wallet and transaction model, ensuring that alterations to the signature scheme do not interfere with the core application logic. Researchers harnessed micro-benchmarking data, including key generation, signing, and verification times, and integrated it with blockchain-level metrics to provide a holistic performance analysis. This approach enables a detailed understanding of how different schemes behave when deployed at scale, revealing potential performance disparities beyond standalone library measurements.

Scientists meticulously designed the prototype to measure key generation, signing, and verification times, alongside key and signature sizes. The system delivers precise data on these metrics, allowing for a comparative analysis of the three lattice-based schemes. This methodology extends beyond cryptographic properties and micro-benchmarks, directly addressing the impact of signature schemes on a functioning blockchain implementation. The study’s innovative measurement approach combines granular micro-benchmark data with blockchain-level performance indicators, such as validation latency and block creation time. .

Experiments revealed the prototype enables transparent switching between quantum-secure algorithms by separating application logic from the underlying digital signature technique, providing a fair comparison of their performance within a blockchain context. The team measured key generation, signing, and verification times, alongside key and signature sizes, to assess the impact of each scheme on blockchain behaviour. Data shows the prototype implements a single wallet and transaction model, ensuring modifications to the signature scheme do not affect application logic, allowing for focused analysis of performance metrics. Researchers outline a measuring approach combining micro-benchmark data with blockchain-level metrics like validation latency and block creation time, offering a comprehensive evaluation of each algorithm.

Measurements confirm the system design facilitates gathering data on key generation, signature, and verification, then correlates this with blockchain-specific performance indicators. Tests prove the prototype can be extended to additional schemes such as HAETAE, broadening the scope of future investigations. The full source code and benchmarking scripts are publicly available, enabling reproducibility and further development by the wider research community. Results demonstrate the ability to swap between Dilithium, Falcon, and Hawk within the blockchain environment, providing valuable insights into their practical implementation. The prototype’s design allows for detailed analysis of how each algorithm influences transaction signing cost, block verification time, and storage overhead through key and signature sizes. This work contributes to understanding the trade-offs between different PQ signature schemes in a real-world blockchain setting, paving the way for more secure and resilient blockchain technologies.

Post-quantum signatures for scalable blockchains demonstrated promising results

Scientists have developed a blockchain prototype incorporating post-quantum digital signature schemes to address vulnerabilities in current elliptic-curve cryptography. The research focused on CRYSTALS-Dilithium, Falcon, and Hawk, lattice-based schemes designed to resist attacks from quantum computers. Through experimentation, the team assessed key.