Quantum-safe algorithms (also known as post-quantum cryptographic algorithms) are cryptographic algorithms designed to be secure against attacks by quantum computers. These algorithms aim to protect data from the potential threats posed by the powerful computational abilities of quantum computers, which could break many of the cryptographic systems used today. Quantum computers leverage the principles of…

A hash-based encryption algorithm refers to a cryptographic technique that uses hash functions in conjunction with encryption processes. While hash functions themselves do not perform encryption (since they are one-way functions), they are often used as part of encryption systems to ensure data integrity, verify identities, or create cryptographic keys. In cryptography, hash functions are…

Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT) Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT) is a property of distributed systems that allows them to reach consensus even if some participants (nodes) are acting maliciously or failing to function properly. This concept is derived from the Byzantine Generals Problem, which illustrates the challenge of achieving agreement among participants when some may send…

The Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) is a cryptographic algorithm used to generate digital signatures, which ensures the authenticity, integrity, and non-repudiation of digital messages or transactions. It is based on elliptic curve cryptography (ECC), making it more efficient than other signature algorithms like RSA by offering strong security with smaller key sizes. How…

Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) is a form of public-key cryptography that is based on the mathematics of elliptic curves. It provides strong security while using much smaller keys compared to traditional methods like RSA. This makes ECC efficient in terms of both computation and bandwidth, which is why it’s widely used in modern cryptographic systems,…

Ed25519 is a high-performance, secure, and efficient public-key signature system based on elliptic curve cryptography (ECC). It is specifically designed to provide strong security guarantees while being fast and easy to implement, making it a popular choice for digital signatures in modern cryptographic applications. Key Features of Ed25519: How Ed25519 Works: Use Cases of Ed25519:…

Optimistic Rollups on Cardano are a Layer-2 scaling solution designed to improve the network’s scalability by enabling off-chain transaction execution while maintaining the security guarantees of the Layer-1 (Cardano’s main blockchain). This technology allows for more efficient transaction processing, particularly for smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps), by shifting most of the computational work off-chain.…

Input Endorsers on Cardano are part of a planned optimization to improve the blockchain’s scalability and transaction throughput. This concept aims to separate the process of transaction validation from block production, allowing for greater parallelism and efficiency in how transactions are handled. Here’s how Input Endorsers work and their significance: In summary, Input Endorsers are…

Non-Interactive Proofs of Proof-of-Stake (NIPoPoS) are cryptographic protocols designed to allow a party (the prover) to demonstrate to another party (the verifier) that a certain blockchain is following a valid proof-of-stake (PoS) protocol without requiring interaction between the two parties or access to the entire blockchain history. NIPoPoS are particularly useful in situations where a…

KMZ Sidechains refer to a specific sidechain design proposed for the Cardano blockchain. The name “KMZ” comes from the authors of the research paper that describes them: Kiayias, Miller, and Zindros. The goal of KMZ sidechains is to enable secure and scalable communication between the main blockchain (like Cardano) and sidechains, which are independent blockchains…