Using Cryptography to Ensure Integrity in Distributed Ledger Technology

Abstract

Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) has revolutionized how digital transactions are recorded and verified, enabling decentralized trust without intermediaries. Cryptography plays a foundational role in ensuring the integrity of data within these ledgers by providing mechanisms for secure data hashing, digital signatures, and consensus protocols. This paper explores the cryptographic techniques essential to maintaining integrity in DLT, including hash functions, public-key cryptography, and Merkle trees. We analyze how these tools mitigate tampering and fraud while supporting transparency and immutability in distributed environments. A comparative overview of cryptographic primitives in popular blockchain platforms is also provided. The study concludes by highlighting future challenges and potential advancements in cryptographic methods for enhancing DLT integrity.