Quantum Leap of Faith

As I sat in my dimly lit study, sipping on a cup of lukewarm tea, I couldn’t help but ponder the mysteries of the universe. And then, I stumbled upon a livestream broadcast by Charles Hoskinson, the founder of ADA, titled “Post-Quantum Cardano.” Ah, the thrill of the unknown! 🤔

Hoskinson, with his characteristic charm, began to weave a tale of a world where quantum computers reign supreme. “The quantum computer world is heating up quite a bit, and a lot of magical amazing things are happening… It is my belief that in 5–10 years we’ll probably make substantial progress to the point where we really have to start thinking about updating and modernizing the cryptography.” 🔥

He spoke of the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and their recent efforts to create post-quantum encryption standards. “Turns out it’s not just my belief—it’s the United States government’s belief as well… The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) proactively got together… and they created some standards.” 📜

As I listened intently, I couldn’t help but think of the implications of such a world. A world where our current security models are rendered obsolete by the mighty quantum computer. 🤖

Hoskinson warned of the dangers of Shor’s algorithm, which can run on large-scale quantum computers, posing a theoretical threat to elliptic curve systems. “The problem is we have this thing called Shor’s algorithm… if you have a quantum computer, it can kill the security of that [elliptic curve]… So what a lot of people in the blockchain space do is they say, ‘Oh well, we got a post-quantum signature scheme, so we’re good.’ But that couldn’t be further from the truth.” 🚨

The Three-Step Plan For Cardano

Hoskinson laid out a clear, three-phase approach for transitioning Cardano into a fully quantum-resistant system over the coming years. And, I must say, it’s a plan that’s both ambitious and intriguing. 🤔

1. Develop A Quantum-Secure Model

Cardano’s foundational cryptographic protocols must be audited against a “canonical quantum adversary.” This means systematically reviewing every algorithm for potential vulnerabilities once a capable quantum computer emerges. 🔍

2. Separate Cardano Into Two Chains

Hoskinson proposed creating a separate, post-quantum proof chain—a “meta” layer that can serve as an immutable checkpoint system for Cardano’s main chain. “You want to separate Cardano into two pieces: there’s Cardano [main chain]… then we have a proof chain… 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.” 📈

3. Full Integration

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. “Then the third phase is eventual integration… as the PQSS schemes get more advanced plus we develop a post-quantum VRF… we can put that into the chain and merge the meta chain and the main chain together.” 🔗

And so, dear reader, it seems that the future of Cardano is bright, but also fraught with challenges. Will they succeed in their quest for quantum resistance? Only time will tell. 🕰️

At press time, ADA traded at $0.797. 📊

2025-02-22 05:13

The Three-Step Plan For Cardano

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