A novel framework for secure cryptocurrency transactions using quantum crypto guard

In today's digital world, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin can secure transactions without banks. However, the rise of quantum computing poses significant threats to their security, as traditional cryptographic methods may be easily compromised. In addition, the existing algorithms face difficulties like slow transaction speeds, interoperability issues between different cryptocurrencies, and privacy concerns. Hence, Quantum Crypto Guard for Secure Transactions (QCG-ST), a novel blockchain framework, is introduced, offering enhanced security and efficiency for cryptocurrency transactions. The QCG-ST employs lattice-based cryptography to provide robust protection against quantum threats and incorporates a new consensus mechanism to increase the transaction speed and reduce energy consumption. The QCG-ST system uses lattice-based encryption that is based on the Ring Learning With Errors (Ring-LWE) issue to protect itself from quantum assaults. It uses sharding, a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus method, and a threshold signature scheme (TSS) to make the system more scalable and use less energy. Zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) are used to check transactions without giving out private information. We offer a cross-chain atomic swap protocol that uses hashed time-lock contracts to make sure that it works on all platforms. Blockchain transaction data utilized in testing originated from the Bitcoin Historical Dataset available on Kaggle, and quantum resistance has been assessed using the Qiskit Aer simulator. It evaluated the framework's performance to that of traditional methods like Payment Channel-Lightning Network (PC-LN), Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE), and Cross-Chain Transaction with Hyperledger (CCT-H). Results show that QCG-ST does far better than traditional systems in terms of transaction success rate (up to 98.5%), speed, energy efficiency, latency, and throughput, especially when tested in a quantum-simulated environment. This study completes in an essential vacuum in blockchain technology by suggesting a strong, quantum-resistant, privacy-protecting architecture that can handle the problems that could arise up in decentralized digital banking in the future.