# Cryptography Related Articles

From Principles to the Future: How Quantum Computing Reshapes the Security Landscape of Blockchain

Summary: This article analyzes the real quantum computing threat to blockchain, arguing timelines for cryptographically relevant quantum computers (CRQCs) are often exaggerated. While "Harvest Now, Decrypt Later" (HNDL) attacks necessitate an immediate shift to post-quantum encryption for long-term data secrecy, the transition for digital signatures is less urgent as they are not vulnerable to HNDL attacks. Most blockchains (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum) primarily use signatures, not encryption, so they face the threat of future signature forgery, not immediate decryption. However, Bitcoin requires urgent planning due to its slow governance, the need for active user migration of funds, and the risk of losing billions in vulnerable, possibly abandoned coins. Privacy chains with encrypted on-chain data are more immediate HNDL targets. The article cautions against a rushed adoption of immature post-quantum signatures (which are larger and riskier to implement) and zkSNARKs, advising a measured approach. It recommends immediate deployment of hybrid encryption, planning for blockchain migration, prioritizing implementation security (bugs are a bigger near-term risk than quantum computers), and maintaining perspective on quantum computing announcements.

比推Ayer 09:34