Post Quantum Signature for Blockchain

Abstract

Advancements in quantum processing technology threaten the core security mechanisms that protect contemporary distributed ledger platforms. Hyperledger Fabric, an enterprise- focused, permissioned ledger developed under the Linux Foundation’s open-source umbrella, caters to organizational priorities including data seclusion, expansion capabilities, and regulated user involvement. In contrast to decentralized public networks such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, Fabric incorporates verified entities, flexible validation protocols, and streamlined verification routines. Despite these strengths, its dependence on the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) exposes it to vulnerabilities from Shor’s computational method, which efficiently reconstructs confidential keys from exposed counterparts, thereby jeopardizing transaction validity, genuineness, and irrefutability. This study advocates for the incorporation of quantum-secure cryptographic techniques (PQC), particularly the CRYSTALS-Dilithium authentication protocol, into Hyperledger Fabric employing a merged authentication paradigm that fuses ECDSA with Dilithium. This blended strategy yields stratified defenses, comparable to redundant safety systems in vehicles, delivering endurance to quantum incursions while preserving synergy with established infrastructures. Initial testing demonstrates negligible impacts on operational efficiency coupled with notable bolstering of protective measures, facilitating the evolution of fortified, quantum-immune commercial ledgers that sustain enduring credibility and informational steadfastness. Keywords—Hyperledger Fabric, Permissioned Ledger, Quantum-Safe Cryptography, CRYSTALS-Dilithium, ECDSA, Quantum Safeguard, Ledger Steadfastness