Blockchain Verifiable Proof of Quantum Supremacy as a Trigger for Quantum-Secure Signatures

2026-01-09

arXiv.org

AI Summary

This work addresses the existential threat posed by quantum computing to current cryptographic systems, particularly the risk of blockchain security collapse upon the realization of cryptographically relevant quantum advantage. To mitigate this, the paper proposes an on-chain mechanism implemented via Ethereum smart contracts that generates keyless large-integer factorization challenges to trustlessly verify quantum supremacy. Upon confirmed verification, the system automatically triggers a migration to quantum-safe digital signatures. This study presents the first integration of quantum advantage verification with proactive blockchain defense, enabling decentralized, unbiased detection of quantum threats and immediate asset protection. The design ensures high operational efficiency while facilitating a smooth, backward-compatible transition to post-quantum security.

Technology Category

• Machine Learning: Quantum Machine Learning
• Computer Vision: Adversarial Attacks & Robustness
• Game Theory and Economic Paradigms: Adversarial Learning

Application Category

• Security and Privacy: Blockchains and distributed ledgers
• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Economic aspects of blockchain and cryptocurrencies
• Semantics and Knowledge: Provenance, trust, security and privacy, and ethical issues in managing semantic data

Abstract

Blockchain is a decentralized, distributed ledger technology that ensures transparency, security, and immutability through cryptographic techniques. However, advancements in quantum computing threaten the security of classical cryptographic schemes, jeopardizing blockchain integrity once cryptographic quantum supremacy is achieved. This milestone, defined here as the realization of quantum computers to solve practical cryptographic problems, would render existing security standards vulnerable, exposing blockchain assets (currency, data, etc.) to fraud and theft. To address this risk, we propose and implement a smart contract deployable on the Ethereum blockchain, having the ability to run applications on its blockchain, that generates classically intractable puzzles by probabilistically generating large, hard-to-factor numbers without requiring secret information. This contract then serves two purposes: to establish a mechanism (1) for a trustless, unbiased proof of cryptographic quantum supremacy by verifying solutions to these puzzles, and (2) to protect user funds on Ethereum by triggering quantum-secure fallback protocols upon detecting cryptographic quantum supremacy, since it is desirable to wait as long as possible to fall back to a quantum-secure scheme because of its inherent additional cost and complexity. These mechanisms demonstrate the ability to identify cryptographic vulnerabilities and ensure a smooth transition to quantum-secure standards, safeguarding blockchain assets in a post-quantum era.

Problem

• quantum supremacy
• blockchain security
• post-quantum cryptography
• cryptographic vulnerability
• quantum threat

Innovation

• quantum supremacy
• blockchain
• smart contract
• post-quantum cryptography
• verifiable proof