BNB Chain Completes Post-Quantum Cryptography Tests
BNB Chain, the network behind the cryptocurrency BNB, has announced the results of its tests on post-quantum cryptography. The aim is to prepare the blockchain for the potential threats posed by quantum computers.
The tests were conducted on Binance Smart Chain (BSC). They used the ML-DSA-44 standard for signing transactions and a technology called pqSTARK to aggregate consensus votes. The network shared its findings in a recent report.
Trade-Offs in Data Size and Speed
One key takeaway from the tests is that while the system remains compatible with existing address structures, RPC infrastructure, SDKs, and wallets, it generates a notable increase in data size. According to the report, the signature for a transaction grew from around 65 bytes to nearly 2,420 bytes. Consequently, the average transaction size jumped from about 110 bytes to roughly 2.5 KB. Block sizes also expanded to about 2 MB, which is a significant increase.
This growth in data came with a cost to performance. Cross-region tests revealed that the network’s transactions per second (TPS) dropped by roughly 40% to 50%. However, the report points out that the pqSTARK aggregation mechanism helped keep the load on validators manageable. The compression ratio achieved was about 43:1, which apparently made the data burden on the validator side more efficient.
Quantum Readiness Is Possible But Costly
The network stated in its announcement, “Post-quantum readiness is technically possible on BSC today. However, the growth in data sizes and network constraints remain the biggest trade-offs.” It seems that while the technology works, the current infrastructure would need upgrades to handle the larger data loads without harming user experience. The team may need to optimize further before any full transition.
Looking Ahead
These tests are a proactive step by BNB Chain to future-proof its network. Other blockchains are also exploring similar upgrades. It is not yet clear if or when BNB Chain will fully switch to post-quantum cryptography, but these tests show one possible path forward.
It is important to remember that this is not investment advice. The crypto market remains risky, and projects should be evaluated carefully.
