Math professor warns blockchains could get attacked from quantum computing

Professor Massimiliano Sala is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Trento. He also has expertise in the field of cryptography.

On May 17, 2024, ripple.com published an article titled: “Quantum Computing’s Impact on Blockchain: Insights from Professor Massimiliano Sala”.

Professor Massimiliano Sala warns blockchains could get attacked from quantum computing such as people use quantum computer to hack our public keys and steal our crypto assets.

According to Professor Sala, the advent of quantum computing poses significant threats to the cryptographic underpinnings of blockchains.

Quantum computing utilizes the principles of quantum mechanics to process information.

Unlike classical computers that use bits to represent data as 0s or 1s, quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously.

This allows them to perform complex calculations at unprecedented speeds, quantum computers can solve problems that classical computers take many years to finish but quantum computers take a few minutes to finish solving the same problems.

According to Professor Sala, quantum computers, with their ability to solve complex mathematical problems at unprecedented speeds, could potentially break the digital signatures that are the cornerstone of blockchain security that protect users on blockchain platforms.

He proposes that we need a proactive approach to developing “post-quantum cryptographic schemes” that are designed to be secure against quantum computational attacks.

Professor Sala emphasizes the urgency of transitioning to quantum-resistant cryptographic systems to protect blockchains.

The integration of quantum-resistant algorithms into existing blockchain technologies, however, is not without its challenges.

These include increasing of computational power and larger block sizes to secure transactions, which could impact the efficiency and scalability of blockchain networks.

Despite these hurdles, Professor Sala believes that we can create quantum resistance.

He affirms that we need a transition to quantum-resistant cryptographic systems.

He suggests that one of solutions is to apply algebra and coding theory to create quantum-resistant cryptographic systems.

Professor Sala illustrates this with examples like the algebraic problem of finding the closest element in a predetermined lattice and the coding-theory-related challenge of decoding noisy data.

These mathematical concepts are integral to the development of robust cryptographic defenses that can endure the quantum era.

Furthermore, Professor Sala's work with the National Italian Association for the support of study and research in cryptography provides an intriguing vantage point on the broader industry and its development.

His insights underscore the importance of international collaboration, such as the efforts led by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in promoting the creation of cryptographic standards resistant to quantum attacks.

The smallest chips TSMC can produce have the size of 3 nanometer which is extremely small.

A typical atom has the size between 0.1 and 0.5 nanometers in diameter. Quantum computing can do calculation in the size of an atom that make quantum computers exponentially faster that classical computers.

Many physicists expect that quantum computers will be used in daily life in 10 years.

Professor Massimiliano Sala suggests that blockchain industry needs next level of security to protect against quantum attacks and quantum hacks.