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Blockchain Security Risk Assessment in Quantum Era, Migration Strategies and Proactive Defense

This paper provides a framework for the security risk assessment of blockchains in anticipation of the quantum era. It outlines a systematic migration strategy

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Abstract

This paper provides a framework for the security risk assessment of blockchains in anticipation of the quantum era. It outlines a systematic migration strategy for legacy protocols, proposing a multi-stage upgrade path involving modular cryptographic components. The authors discuss ‘proactive defense,’ where blockchains begin incorporating quantum-safe signatures alongside traditional signatures to create a dual-signature layer. This approach allows for backward compatibility while future-proofing transaction records. The paper emphasizes the necessity of automated audit tools to monitor the cryptographical health of existing smart contracts and treasury addresses. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the potential for a ‘quantum-harvesting’ attack, where encrypted data is collected now to be decrypted later, underscoring the urgency for blockchain developers to implement quantum-safe protocols immediately. Authors: M. U. Hassan, M. H. Rehmani, J. Chen Publication: arXiv preprint Publication date: 2025-01-01

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Key findings

  • Quantum-harvesting attacks necessitate immediate upgrades to long-term storage protocols.
  • Dual-signature layering enables backward compatibility for legacy chains.
  • Automated auditing is required to identify vulnerable smart contracts.
  • A modular migration path is more feasible than a disruptive hard fork.

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Citation

M. U. Hassan, M. H. Rehmani, J. Chen (2025). Blockchain Security Risk Assessment in Quantum Era, Migration Strategies and Proactive Defense. arXiv preprint. https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.11798
Canonical knowledge ID: research:blockchain-security-risk-assessment-in-quantum-era-migration-strategies-and-proactive-defense