Post-quantum distributed ledger technology: a systematic review

This paper presents a systematic review of the landscape of post-quantum distributed ledger technology (PQ-DLT). The authors categorize existing research based on the mechanisms used to replace vulnerable cryptographic primitives, specifically focusing on hash-based signatures and lattice-based cryptography. The review highlights the shift from traditional ECDSA-based architectures to newer models that incorporate quantum-resistant, lattice-based digital signatures. The study discusses the impact of these changes on consensus mechanisms, noting that while security is enhanced, the increased size of public keys and signatures necessitates improvements in block validation speed and network throughput. The paper provides a critical assessment of the technical hurdles involved in hard-forking existing live networks to support PQC, offering a framework for evaluating the preparedness of current DLT implementations against quantum-enabled adversarial threats.