In a bold move to safeguard the future of blockchain, Naoris Protocol has announced a $120,000 bounty program to test the quantum resistance of elliptic curve cryptography. This initiative targets the vulnerabilities that quantum computing could exploit, threatening the security of systems worth trillions.
Why Quantum Resistance Matters Now
Quantum computing poses a significant risk to current cryptographic standards. Here’s why this bounty is critical:
- Secp256k1 – $50,000 reward for breaking this curve, used by Bitcoin.
- Ed25519 – $30,000 for vulnerabilities in this widely adopted algorithm.
- NIST P-256 – $20,000 to test this government-recommended standard.
The Race Against Quantum Threats
Experts estimate that quantum computers capable of breaking 256-bit elliptic curve cryptography could emerge within the next decade. Naoris CEO David Carvalho warns, “When quantum computers achieve this, it won’t be a drill.”
How Naoris is Leading in Post-Quantum Security
Naoris Protocol is developing quantum-resistant blockchain infrastructure using lattice-based cryptography. Their bounty program aims to:
- Engage the global cryptographic community in stress-testing current standards.
- Accelerate the transition to quantum-resistant algorithms.
- Protect $2.4 trillion in Bitcoin and $410 trillion in global banking systems.
What This Means for Blockchain’s Future
The initiative reflects growing recognition of quantum threats across industries. Governments and enterprises are already transitioning to post-quantum cryptography, making this bounty a timely wake-up call for the crypto sector.
FAQs
Q: Why is elliptic curve cryptography vulnerable to quantum computers?
A: Quantum computers can solve the mathematical problems underlying ECC much faster than classical computers, potentially breaking encryption.
Q: How soon could quantum computers break current cryptography?
A: Estimates suggest 10-20 years before quantum computers reach the 2,330 logical qubits needed to break 256-bit ECC.
Q: What alternatives exist to elliptic curve cryptography?
A: Lattice-based cryptography, like what Naoris is developing, is considered one of the most promising post-quantum alternatives.
Q: Who can participate in Naoris’s bounty program?
A: The program is open to cryptographers and security researchers worldwide who can demonstrate vulnerabilities in the specified algorithms.