Network Security & Applied Cryptography

Welcome to the Applied Crypto Lab based in the School of Computer Science and Statistics at Trinity College Dublin. Our research group is focused on various aspects of Network Security, Cryptography, Decentralisation and Privacy.

Explore Our Research

Research Areas & Technologies

Post-Quantum Cryptography

Developing and analyzing cryptographic algorithms resistant to attacks by quantum computers.

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Zero-Knowledge Proofs

Exploring ZKPs for privacy-preserving applications like voting, identity, and blockchain.

zkBallot Project

Network Security & Decentralisation

Designing decentralized protocols and digital identity systems on blockchain.

X.509 on XRPL

Research Projects

Our research group focuses on developing practical applications of cryptography and blockchain technology. Here are our key projects:

zkBallot : Privacy-Preserving eVoting

Zero-Knowledge Proofs eVoting Privacy

zkBallot is a next-generation eVoting system using zero-knowledge proofs to guarantee voter privacy and verifiable results. No identities or choices are ever revealed.

Privacy

Complete voter anonymity through advanced cryptographic techniques, ensuring vote secrecy.

Verifiability

End-to-end verification without compromising privacy or revealing individual votes.

  • Private, verifiable voting
  • Public, privacy-preserving tally
  • Tamper-Proof Vote records
Video Walkthrough Visit Website

GO Certs for Energy Domain

Energy Sector Blockchain Sustainability

Creating Guarantee of Origin (GO) Infrastructure in partnership with Ireland's foremost energy company (ESB), revolutionizing how renewable energy is certified and tracked.

Sustainability

Enabling transparent tracking and verification of renewable energy sources and consumption.

Industry Impact

Direct collaboration with ESB to implement blockchain solutions in the energy sector.

  • Blockchain-based energy certification
  • Renewable energy tracking
  • Industry partnership with ESB
  • Real-time energy monitoring
Know More

XRPL PQC Integration

Post-Quantum CRYSTALS-Dilithium XRPL Blockchain Security

Enhancing the XRP Ledger's security against quantum computing threats through the integration of NIST-standardized Post-Quantum Cryptographic (PQC) algorithms.

Challenge

Current cryptographic algorithms (Secp256k1, Ed25519-donna) are vulnerable to quantum attacks via Shor's and Grover's algorithms.

Solution

Integration of CRYSTALS-Dilithium, a lattice-based PQC algorithm, providing quantum resistance while maintaining backward compatibility.

Implementation Scope

  • XRPL Protocol Modifications
  • Key Management Infrastructure
  • Transaction Validation Process
  • Backward Compatibility
  • Performance Optimization
  • Security Standardization
Technical Documentation GitHub

Decentralized X.509 Certificate Management on XRPL

Blockchain XRPL X.509 Certificates Decentralized Identity

This project enables decentralized, tamper-resistant, and publicly verifiable digital certificate management using the XRP Ledger (XRPL). By hashing the user's email as a unique identifier, certificates are securely stored and can be retrieved for secure messaging, email encryption, or identity verification—without relying on a central authority.

Organisations such as universities, schools, and companies can leverage this system to issue X.509 certificates to their staff and students at zero cost. This removes traditional barriers and expenses, making it possible to build a truly global, blockchain-based Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) that is accessible to all.

Security

Certificates are compressed, encoded, and stored on XRPL, ensuring immutability and resistance to tampering.

Transparency

Anyone can verify the existence and integrity of a certificate on the public ledger.

Privacy

User identities are protected by using hashed email addresses as unique keys.

Implementation Scope

  • Certificate Compression & Encoding
  • Storage on XRPL with Hashed Email
  • Public, Verifiable Retrieval
  • Tamper-Proof & Censorship-Resistant Records
  • Enables Secure Messaging & Email Encryption
  • No Central Authority Required

Publications

Meet the Team

Prof. Hitesh Tewari

Prof. Hitesh Tewari

Principal Investigator

Atharva Lele

Atharva Lele

Research Assistant

Harsha Vardhan Gajendra Kumar

Harsha Vardhan

Research Assistant

Dr. Vaibhav Agarwal

Dr. Vaibhav Agarwal

Postdoctoral Researcher

Aniket Kumar

Aniket Kumar

Research Assistant

Get In Touch

We welcome collaboration inquiries, questions about our research, and prospective students.

Email: htewari@tcd.ie

Address: School of Computer Science and Statistics, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

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