Key Takeaways:
BNB Smart Chain can successfully defend against future quantum computing attacks, but a recent test shows the security upgrade would cut network throughput by nearly 40 percent. A research report published by BNB Chain developers detailed a large-scale test that replaced the chain’s core cryptography, cutting transactions per second from 4,973 to 2,997.
The research explored implementing post-quantum cryptographic standards to prepare for a future where quantum computers could break the encryption that currently secures most major blockchains, including Bitcoin and Ethereum. "This research reflects a forward-looking approach to infrastructure resilience and long-term network security," the BNB Chain report stated. The test swapped traditional transaction signatures for ML-DSA-44, a method standardized by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
The primary trade-off is performance. Under the new system, the average transaction size grew from approximately 110 bytes to 2.5 kilobytes, causing blocks to fill much faster. This data bloat is the main reason for the 40-50 percent drop in throughput observed during testing, with the most significant slowdowns occurring in cross-region performance as larger blocks took more time to propagate between validators. However, the consensus layer remained efficient, using pqSTARK proofs to compress validator signatures at a 43-to-1 ratio.
The test demonstrates a viable, if costly, path toward quantum resistance. Developers emphasized that the upgrade preserves compatibility with existing 20-byte wallet addresses and related infrastructure, a crucial feature for avoiding user disruption. While cryptographers believe quantum computers capable of breaking current standards like ECDSA are still years away, the test provides a critical benchmark for the entire industry. The challenge now shifts to optimizing data handling to close the performance gap before any potential mainnet deployment.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
