Distributed Randomness: Because One Source of Randomness Isn't Paranoid Enough
Adithya Bhat
Abstract:
In this talk, I will explore distributed fault-tolerant random-number generation protocols. Concretely, I will explore the need for distributed randomness protocols, security definitions, and a wide-range of protocols using three main techniques: secret-sharing, verifiable random functions, verifiable delay functions, and threshold primitives. Finally, I will discuss challenges and open problems in designing randomness protocols in the hybrid model.
Bio:
Adithya Bhat is a Staff Research Scientist at Visa Research. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Purdue University in 2023. During his Ph.D., he worked on designing fault-tolerant State Machine Replication Protocols and Random Beacon Protocols. He also developed Rust libraries for the designed protocols. As a member of the Digital Currencies Team, Adithya’s research interests are broadly in studying highly concurrent trust-optimal decentralized technologies, protocols in the hybrid-trust model, analysis and study of public blockchain data to design and develop heuristics and technologies for highly scalable systems, and design and development of scalable privacy-preserving auditable secure computation.