A Secure and Scalable Post-Quantum Cross-Blockchain Data Exchange Model Based on Hierarchical Attribute Encryption

Abstract

The exponential emergence of cross-chain data sharing in blockchain-enabled IoT and cloud systems creates vital challenges in the scalability, privacy, and post-quantum security landscapes. To tackle these problems, we propose a hierarchical attribute clustering-attribute-based encryption (HAC-ABE) scheme in this paper, which offers a secure post-quantum cross-blockchain data exchange framework. The method utilizes hierarchical attribute clustering and lattice-based encryption to reduce the computation overhead while supporting fine-grained access control. It utilizes IPFS decentralized storage and smart contracts to achieve a transparent data exchange across chains. Experimental results show 9.7% faster computation time and much lower communication overheads than state-of-the-art ABE-based approaches, verifying its effectiveness and scalability for practical decentralized environments.