We will have keynote talks from the following world-leading researchers.

Keynote Talk I: Multivariate Cryptography: From Signatures to more Advanced Primitives

Abstract

Multivariate cryptography is one of the oldest families of post-quantum cryptography, founded on the hardness of solving systems of multivariate quadratic equations over finite fields. Over the past three decades, it has evolved from early proposals such as Matsumoto-Imai and Hidden Field Equations to some of the most efficient post-quantum signature schemes, including (variants of) the Oil and Vinegar scheme. In this talk, I give a high-level overview of multivariate cryptography, highlighting the core design principles, common sources of vulnerability, and the lessons learned from cryptanalysis. I will then turn to more recent developments that extend beyond traditional signatures, showing how multivariate techniques can be adapted to construct advanced primitives such as blind signature schemes, anonymous credential systems, and threshold signature schemes.

Keynote Talk II: Economically-efficient attacks on blockchains

Abstract

For better or worse, blockchain systems have become an integral part of our financial infrastructure. While cryptocurrencies have seen limited adoption as a way to pay for goods and services (with the exception of underground marketplaceS), they have become a mainstream investment instrument. Given the amount of money transiting everyday over modern blockchains, like Bitcoin's or Ethereum's, ensuring security of these systems is of paramount importance. Unfortunately, as I will discuss in this talk, fairly simple economic attacks can be particularly harmful to the ecosystem as a whole. I will in particular introduce Blockchain Amplification Attacks, in which attackers can cause serious financial losses to infrastructure operators (e.g., those operating relay nodes), and Blockchain Address Poisoning attacks, which have become an extremely common way of swindling end-users of their money. I will also introduce some possible defenses, or at least counter-measures against these attacks.