Embedding Tamper-Resistant, Publicly Verifiable Random Number Seeds in Permissionless Blockchain Systems
Many blockchain processes require pseudo-random numbers. This is especially true of blockchain consensus mechanisms that aim to fairly distribute the opportunity to propose new blocks between the participants in the system. The starting point for these processes is a source of randomness that partic...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IEEE
2022-01-01
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| Series: | IEEE Access |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9751099/ |
| _version_ | 1818049203563134976 |
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| author | Riaan Bezuidenhout Wynand Nel Jacques M. Maritz |
| author_facet | Riaan Bezuidenhout Wynand Nel Jacques M. Maritz |
| author_sort | Riaan Bezuidenhout |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Many blockchain processes require pseudo-random numbers. This is especially true of blockchain consensus mechanisms that aim to fairly distribute the opportunity to propose new blocks between the participants in the system. The starting point for these processes is a source of randomness that participants cannot manipulate. This paper proposes two methods for embedding random number seeds in a blockchain data structure to serve as inputs to pseudo-random number generators. Because the output of a pseudo-random number generator depends deterministically on its seed, the properties of the seed are critical to the quality of the eventual pseudo-random number produced. Our protocol, B-Rand, embeds random number seeds that are <italic>confidential</italic>, <italic>tamper-resistant</italic>, <italic>unpredictable</italic>, <italic>collision-resistant</italic>, and <italic>publicly verifiable</italic> as part of every transaction. These seeds may then be used by transaction owners to participate in processes in the blockchain system that require pseudo-random numbers. Both the Single Secret and Double Secret B-Rand protocols are highly scalable with low space and computational cost, and the worst case is linear in the number of transactions per block. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T10:33:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ab483aa2af264ed1a52245b7d1ee1486 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2169-3536 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T10:33:51Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | IEEE |
| record_format | Article |
| series | IEEE Access |
| spelling | doaj.art-ab483aa2af264ed1a52245b7d1ee14862022-12-22T01:52:30ZengIEEEIEEE Access2169-35362022-01-0110399123992510.1109/ACCESS.2022.31656169751099Embedding Tamper-Resistant, Publicly Verifiable Random Number Seeds in Permissionless Blockchain SystemsRiaan Bezuidenhout0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5412-7512Wynand Nel1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5579-6411Jacques M. Maritz2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1556-8523Department of Computer Science and Informatics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South AfricaDepartment of Computer Science and Informatics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South AfricaDepartment of Engineering Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South AfricaMany blockchain processes require pseudo-random numbers. This is especially true of blockchain consensus mechanisms that aim to fairly distribute the opportunity to propose new blocks between the participants in the system. The starting point for these processes is a source of randomness that participants cannot manipulate. This paper proposes two methods for embedding random number seeds in a blockchain data structure to serve as inputs to pseudo-random number generators. Because the output of a pseudo-random number generator depends deterministically on its seed, the properties of the seed are critical to the quality of the eventual pseudo-random number produced. Our protocol, B-Rand, embeds random number seeds that are <italic>confidential</italic>, <italic>tamper-resistant</italic>, <italic>unpredictable</italic>, <italic>collision-resistant</italic>, and <italic>publicly verifiable</italic> as part of every transaction. These seeds may then be used by transaction owners to participate in processes in the blockchain system that require pseudo-random numbers. Both the Single Secret and Double Secret B-Rand protocols are highly scalable with low space and computational cost, and the worst case is linear in the number of transactions per block.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9751099/B-Randblockchainconsensus algorithmhomomorphic encryptionpseudo-random number generationrandom number seeds |
| spellingShingle | Riaan Bezuidenhout Wynand Nel Jacques M. Maritz Embedding Tamper-Resistant, Publicly Verifiable Random Number Seeds in Permissionless Blockchain Systems IEEE Access B-Rand blockchain consensus algorithm homomorphic encryption pseudo-random number generation random number seeds |
| title | Embedding Tamper-Resistant, Publicly Verifiable Random Number Seeds in Permissionless Blockchain Systems |
| title_full | Embedding Tamper-Resistant, Publicly Verifiable Random Number Seeds in Permissionless Blockchain Systems |
| title_fullStr | Embedding Tamper-Resistant, Publicly Verifiable Random Number Seeds in Permissionless Blockchain Systems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Embedding Tamper-Resistant, Publicly Verifiable Random Number Seeds in Permissionless Blockchain Systems |
| title_short | Embedding Tamper-Resistant, Publicly Verifiable Random Number Seeds in Permissionless Blockchain Systems |
| title_sort | embedding tamper resistant publicly verifiable random number seeds in permissionless blockchain systems |
| topic | B-Rand blockchain consensus algorithm homomorphic encryption pseudo-random number generation random number seeds |
| url | https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9751099/ |
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