Binance’s BNB Chain network tested how quantum computer-resistant cryptography technologies affect the chain. The experiment revealed that a high level of security in practice led to a significant decrease in the processing speed of the network.
Preparation for quantum technologies
BNB Chain is considered one of the major Ethereum-based blockchains in terms of transaction volume. Therefore, the trial conducted on the network offered an important indication of how efficiently high-speed blockchains with large user bases can implement quantum security upgrades in the future.
In the new conceptual study, two key technological components underlying BNB Chain — the ECDSA algorithm that signs transactions and the BLS12-381 algorithm used by block validators — have been replaced with alternatives that are resistant to quantum computers. As a result of the experiment, the network’s inter-transaction transfer capacity per second dropped from 4,973 to 2,997; This represents a reduction of approximately 40 percent because larger signatures greatly increase the amount of data carried on the chain.
Critical techniques and security practices
Most blockchains use the ECDSA algorithm to prove ownership of users’ wallet assets. When a transaction is initiated, the user signs the transaction with his private key. BLS12-381 is used among validators that verify the validity of blocks and keep the chain constantly updated. These two systems are based on elliptic curve cryptography. Experts warn that a sufficiently powerful quantum computer could bypass this protection using methods such as the Shor algorithm.
In testing, the size of a single transaction increased from approximately 110 bytes to 2.5 kilobytes, and block sizes increased from 130 KB to approximately 2 MB. It was observed that the contraction in transaction confirmation capacity was not due to the network verification, but to the congestion created by the amount of extra data moving along the chain.
Solutions from different networks
Validators’ systems for block confirmation and chain updating were less impacted during the testing process, thanks to the compression of the data. The real burden came from the large, quantum-resistant digital signatures attached to each payment, causing extra data movement across the network.
BNB Chain is not the only network seeking to transition to quantum security. Bitcoin developers are focusing on long-term innovations that will be integrated directly into the protocol, such as BIP-360. Some researchers propose emergency solutions that can work within existing rules but are more costly.
In Ethereum, a more cautious and comprehensive process is carried out. The Ethereum Foundation has launched a post-quantum security initiative that will gradually strengthen everything from wallets to validator infrastructure to the underlying structures of the network. Ethereum aims for long-term adaptation rather than a quick transition.
TRON, on the other hand, prefers to move faster. Justin Sun, the founder of the protocol, announced that they plan to launch a quantum-resistant testnet in the second quarter of 2024, and then launch the main network in the third quarter of the year. These steps aim to bring TRON to the forefront among major blockchains with an emphasis on “quantum security”.
The direction of the sector in the post-quantum era
BNB Chain’s experiment shows that a new phase of discussion has begun for the entire industry. The real issue is no longer whether blockchains can be strengthened against quantum attacks, but at what cost to achieve this in terms of speed and efficiency.
As highlighted in BNB Chain’s technical report, quantum resistant security solutions can lead to serious efficiency losses in high transaction capacity blockchains; This causes the sector to face complex choices in the short term.
