For Hagopian, “the risk of quantum is not something distant in terms of protocol development.”
The Ethereum Foundation studies quantum computing cryptography.
In the Blockchain Summit event of Montevideo held on July 25, Uruguayan developer Ignacio Hagopian, a member of the Ethereum Foundation (EF), analyzed with cryptootics a topic that worries researchers and developers of the Bitcon ecosystem and cryptocurrencies: the threat of quantum computing.
After commenting on the role of the EF in the Ethereum ecosystem, in this second part of the interview, Hagopian exposed the estimates of that entity on the arrival of the alleged quantum attack:
“For the Ethereum Foundation the risk of quantum will materialize in 10 or 15 years.”
Ignacio Hagopian, developer of the Ethereum Foundation.
Quantum computing promises a calculation capacity that, if maturing, could solve in second problems that classic computers would take centuries or simply could not.
Among those challenges are certain algorithms, capable of theory of break the cryptography that today protects Bitcoin, to Ethereum and many cryptocurrency networks, as well as cybersecurity in general.
In that sense, Hagopian explained that the term of “10 or 15 years”, although it seems distant, in his vision is different:
“The risk of quantum is not something distant in terms of protocol development. Each fork of Ethereum takes time for planning, implementation and activation. We are already working on what changes to make so that Ethereum is safe before quantum computers.”
Ignacio Hagopian, developer of the Ethereum Foundation.
Currently, Ethereum and Bitcoin use cryptography based on Elliptical curvean efficient and safe system against traditional computers. However, before a quantum algorithm, such as Shor, Those mechanisms would be vulnerable.
To mitigate that risk, Hagopian said that from the EF they study adopting the signature scheme Falcona post-chantic algorithm based on reticle cryptography (Latice). To date, it has not been shown that it can be broken by known quantum algorithms. Another possibility is the use of HASH functions -based signatures.
The Ethereum protocol, according to Hagopian, uses cryptography with elliptical curve linked to BLOBS (introduced in the Dencun update) that use the second layers (L2) to register transactions. Also uses an elliptical curve called Bls, used for validators to vote on the veracity of transactions information.
Regarding these technologies: “All that would have to change to quantum danger”warned the developer. Justin Drake, one of the most recognized collaborators of the Ethereum Foundation, recently explained that the data layer of that network will incorporate in the next 10 years «Blobs 2.0» with post-chanting capacity, and adjustable sizes to facilitate the experience of developers.
Finally, in terms of the number of cubits necessary to break the security of Ethereum or Bitcoin, “it is a bit complex, the truth of this is that no one is very clear,” Hagopian replied.
Cryptonotics explained last July that, after the progress of quantum systems developments, analysts still see this technology as a distant risk considering the amount of cubits required to break Bitcoin’s security.
For example, Adam Back, Blockstream co -founder, approximated that they would be necessary «300 million physical cubits» And a study by the University of Sussex calculated that 13 million physical cubits would be enough to decipher Bitcoin cryptography in one day. Meanwhile, the most powerful quantum chip of today has just 8 physical qubits.
