Quantum Blockchain Migration Workshop
Transcript
https://otter.ai/u/SX2b_mrjGI2kN9w-IFXdticrFTA?view=summary
The discussion focused on the challenges and strategies for migrating blockchains to post-quantum cryptography (PQC). Key points included the computational heaviness of PQC signatures, with Falcon’s verification keys at 897 bytes and signatures at 666 bytes. The impact on decentralization and operational costs was highlighted, with proposals like storing additional data externally or on support chains. The need for efficient signature aggregation and scaling solutions was emphasized, particularly for Ethereum and Bitcoin. The Japanese government’s $1 million competition for PQC-ready blockchains was also discussed, with a call for global collaboration and a proposed global test bed for evaluation.
Action Items
- Issue a call for papers and initiate the specification process for the post-quantum blockchain competition to be discussed at the academic security symposium in Japan in late October (call for papers and specification documents to be prepared and published)
- Organize and run the late-October workshop/symposium session to decide the competition specification (collect submitted papers, facilitate evaluation-panel formation, and produce the specification document)
- Provide detailed competition information and subsequent updates to interested participants and evaluators (distribute details when available and maintain a contact list of respondents who asked to be kept posted)
- Coordinate Japanese government support for a global testbed (engage ~10–15 global universities, fund student operators for 4–6 month experiments, and prepare testbed deployment plan for Bitcoin and Ethereum tracks)
Outline
Challenges and Technical Difficulties of PQC Migration
- Speaker 1 discusses the necessity of PQC migration due to the spread of quantum computers and the resulting cryptographic vulnerabilities.
- The presentation focused on the technical and operational challenges of PQC migration, particularly in the blockchain domain.
- Speaker 1 highlights the computational heaviness of PQC signatures and the increased signature and key sizes, using examples like Falcon and SkySign.
- The discussion includes the impact of increased blockchain data on decentralization and the proposed mitigation strategies, such as storing additional data externally or on a support chain.
Signature Aggregation and Scaling Solutions
- Speaker 1 explains the concept of signature aggregation in Ethereum and Bitcoin, noting the inefficiency of non-PQC signing algorithms.
- The need for alternative signature aggregation schemes in the post-quantum world is emphasized, with Ethereum actively researching solutions.
- The discussion covers the scaling solutions like CK roll-ups and optimistic roll-ups, highlighting their quantum resistance and the need for migration.
- The vulnerabilities of existing smart contracts and the challenges of managing deployed contracts are discussed, including the solvable token issue.
Research and Systematic Analysis of Quantum Effects
- Speaker 1 points out the lack of systematic analysis of quantum computers’ effects on blockchain protocols, with the last comprehensive analysis dating back to 2016.
- The need for updated analyses for different blockchain instances, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Monero, and Cash, is emphasized.
- The discussion includes the importance of creating a comprehensive analysis to address specific corner cases and primitives for each chain.
- The session aims to kick off the discussion on the systematic analysis of quantum effects on blockchain protocols.
Japanese Government’s Competition for PQC Ready Blockchains
- Speaker 2 introduces the Japanese government’s competition for post-quantum secure blockchains, offering a $1 million prize to the winner.
- The competition aims to create a framework for PQC ready blockchains and will involve a call for papers in October.
- The discussion includes the evaluation process, the role of the Japanese government in standardizing the technology, and the timeline for the competition.
- The importance of involving scientists, engineers, and foundations in the evaluation committee is highlighted.
Defining PQC Ready Blockchains and Migration Technologies
- Speaker 2 and Speaker 1 discuss the definition of PQC ready blockchains and the technologies needed for migration.
- The conversation covers the challenges of migrating existing blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum, including the need for new blockchains.
- The discussion includes the importance of maintaining interoperability and the potential for new cryptographic primitives.
- The need for a flexible architecture that can accommodate different cryptographic algorithms is emphasized.
Fragmentation in ZK Roll-ups and Future Research Directions
- Speaker 7 discusses the fragmentation in ZK roll-ups and the lack of clear guidelines from NIST.
- The challenges of using different ZK schemes in layer two solutions and the potential for future research in this area are highlighted.
- The discussion includes the need for better tooling and performance optimization for post-quantum ZK schemes.
- The importance of collaboration between researchers and industry to address these challenges is emphasized.
Global Test Bed and Evaluation of PQC Migration
- Speaker 2 proposes the creation of a global test bed to evaluate the efficiency of PQC migration technologies.
- The discussion includes the need for diversity in hardware and the cooperation with blockchain communities.
- The Japanese government’s budget constraints and the potential for supporting global universities to maintain the test bed are discussed.
- The importance of creating a comprehensive evaluation framework to address the challenges of PQC migration is emphasized.
Recommendations for Test Bed Design and Implementation
- Speaker 9 provides recommendations for building new hooks into clients and ensuring hardware diversity for the test bed.
- The discussion includes the need for cooperation with blockchain communities and the potential overhead before taking measurements.
- The importance of involving international participants and creating a hybrid event for the competition is highlighted.
- The session aims to gather input and feedback on the design and implementation of the global test bed.
Next Steps and Call for Participation
- Speaker 2 outlines the next steps, including the call for papers in October and the creation of the competition specification.
- The discussion includes the importance of involving scientists, engineers, and foundations in the evaluation committee.
- The session aims to gather interest and participation from the international community in the competition.
- The Japanese government’s commitment to supporting the competition and the potential for future updates are emphasized.