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A2L: Anonymous Atomic Locks for Scalability and Interoperability in Payment Channel Networks

This paper presents A2L (Anonymous Atomic Locks), a cryptographic protocol designed to enhance privacy and atomicity in payment channel networks (PCNs). The aut

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Abstract

This paper presents A2L (Anonymous Atomic Locks), a cryptographic protocol designed to enhance privacy and atomicity in payment channel networks (PCNs). The authors identify that current multi-hop payment protocols often sacrifice user anonymity, as payment paths are easily traceable by intermediaries. A2L introduces a mechanism that allows for atomic cross-chain or multi-hop payments without leaking information about the sender or receiver, while maintaining the atomic nature of the transaction (ensuring that either all steps succeed or none do). By utilizing a combination of novel locking schemes and cryptographic commitments, the researchers provide a robust way to scale networks while preserving user confidentiality. This work is highly significant for the development of privacy-preserving decentralized financial infrastructure, bridging the gap between high-throughput requirements and the necessity of financial data protection in an open, transparent blockchain environment. Authors: Lukas Aumayr, Pedro Moreno-Sanchez, Aniket Kate, Matteo Maffei Publication: IACR ePrint Archive Publication date: 2021-01-01

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Key findings

  • Developed a protocol for anonymous and atomic multi-hop payments.
  • Addressed privacy leaks inherent in existing PCN routing protocols.
  • Enabled confidential cross-chain transactions.
  • Maintained atomic properties without compromising network security.

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Citation

Lukas Aumayr, Pedro Moreno-Sanchez, Aniket Kate, Matteo Maffei (2021). A2L: Anonymous Atomic Locks for Scalability and Interoperability in Payment Channel Networks. IACR ePrint Archive. https://eprint.iacr.org/2021/365.pdf
Canonical knowledge ID: research:a2l-anonymous-atomic-locks-for-scalability-and-interoperability-in-payment-channel-networks