The QAN platform has launched the world’s first quantum-proof blockchain testnet compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), enabling the development of quantum-proof smart contracts.
According to an announcement from QANplatform shared with Cointelegraph, the new testnet will allow developers to write smart contracts using any programming language.
Johann Polecsak, co-founder and chief technology officer of the QAN platform, told Cointelegraph:
“Centralized entities such as governments, businesses and organizations can transition their IT security to post-quantum encryption much more easily than blockchain platforms.”
Post-quantum security has been a major concern since December 2023, when the second largest quantum processor, IBM Condor, was launched with 1,121 qubits.
Due to their inherent decentralization, most existing top blockchain networks, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Solana, cannot adopt quantum-resistant security measures without significant negative repercussions, Polecsak explained.
“Blockchain pseudonyms will be counterproductive in post-quantum migration because it is impossible to know whether the legitimate owners are migrating their funds and data or if hackers are stealing everything. In this case, initiating a migration on behalf of the actual owner could put billions of dollars worth of ‘free money’ and data into the hands of hackers, rendering the affected blockchain instantly useless.”
However, the new QANplatform testnet allows EVM-compatible protocols to test their migration process against quantum-resistant alternatives without risking user funds on the mainnet.
The testnet announcement comes nearly two months after the first European country adopted the QAN platform’s quantum resistance technology in March. The technology stack protects against quantum computing attacks on government-owned cybersecurity infrastructure.
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Quantum security will already be a major concern in 2024.
Governments around the world are already preparing for the post-quantum era. In 2018, the European Commission launched a 10-year Quantum Flagship research initiative with a budget of at least 1 billion euros ($1.078 billion).
According to QANplatform’s Polecsak, these efforts are justified, considering that quantum computing already presents a serious security threat to ordinary Internet users. He said:
“Quantum-resistant technologies are already important today due to the ‘store now, decrypt later’ cybersecurity threat, where attackers collect encrypted data with the intention of decrypting it later using more powerful computing methods, such as quantum computers.”
Large corporations are also preparing for the post-quantum future. Apple unveiled a new update in February that aims to future-proof iMessage with post-quantum encryption, making Apple the first of a handful of quantum-proof messaging providers.
The Signal messaging app also released a ‘quantum-resistant’ encryption upgrade in September 2023, but Apple said it was the first app to reach ‘level 3’ encryption.
According to Polecsak, quantum computers may take more time to develop, but post-quantum security should be ahead of its time because quantum computers with stable qubits could break today’s leading cybersecurity algorithms.
“Today’s asymmetric encryption algorithms, such as RSA and EC, used across the entire Internet, including governments, banks, email providers, social media, blockchain platforms, etc., will be decrypted by quantum computers.”
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