### Blockchain as cryptanalytic tool

Manfred Lochter

##### Abstract

One approach for blockchain based applications to provide a proof-of-work is the computation of hash-values. In our opinion these computations are a waste of energy. It would be highly desirable to find an alternative method that generates useful output. We show how to substitute hashing by performing multiplications on Elliptic Curves in order to find distinguished points that can then be used to solve the discrete logarithm problem on a chosen curve. Today's digital infrastructures rely on only a few curves. We argue that the advent of blockchain based technologies makes the use of only few standardised curves questionable. In principle all cryptanalytic algorithms that use Rabin's idea of distinguished points can be used in blockchain based attacks. Similar ideas can be used for the number field sieve.

Available format(s)
Category
Cryptographic protocols
Publication info
Preprint. MINOR revision.
Keywords
Blockchain Elliptic Curve Proof-of-Work
Contact author(s)
manfred lochter @ bsi bund de
History
Short URL
https://ia.cr/2018/893

CC BY

BibTeX

@misc{cryptoeprint:2018/893,
author = {Manfred Lochter},
title = {Blockchain as cryptanalytic tool},
howpublished = {Cryptology ePrint Archive, Paper 2018/893},
year = {2018},
note = {\url{https://eprint.iacr.org/2018/893}},
url = {https://eprint.iacr.org/2018/893}
}

Note: In order to protect the privacy of readers, eprint.iacr.org does not use cookies or embedded third party content.