In 1982, David Chaum conceived the concept of digital cash, currencies that exist entirely in the digital realm and that are secured through cryptographic means.These systems, known as cryptocurrencies, operate without a centralized authority. They are maintained by a distributed network of participants, who run software that performs distributed computations, which use cryptographic techniques to ensure security.

Nowadays, existing cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum have evolved into platforms that store immense financial value. As of January 2025, Ethereum's market capitalization is approximately $400 billion, while Bitcoin's market capitalization stands at $1.8 trillion. Yet, despite their enormous value, many basic questions about their scalability and security remain unanswered. 

Our group is continuously helping build more scalable and more secure cryptocurrencies. We have contributed both to the theory of cryptocurrencies [1, 2] and the development of practical cryptographic tools [3,4, 5, 6, 7], some of which are under consideration for deployment in Ethereum.