Quantum Blockchain for Verifiable Genome Mapping Systems

Abstract

The emergence of quantum computing threatens classical cryptographic systems, prompting the development of quantum-resistant solutions. At the same time, blockchain technology has been recognized for its capacity to provide immutable, auditable records, but existing implementations largely rely on cryptographic primitives vulnerable to quantum attacks. In genomic research, the integrity, provenance, and confidentiality of sequence data are paramount: any undetected tampering can compromise downstream analyses, misguide clinical decisions, or violate patient trust. This paper introduces Quantum Blockchain for Verifiable Genome Mapping Systems (QB-VGMS), a hybrid architecture that melds quantum key distribution (QKD)–based secure channels with a permissioned, quantum-resistant blockchain to enable end-to-end verifiability of genome mapping operations. In our design, genome fragments are hashed using SHA-3 and stored on-chain alongside metadata, while bulk sequence data resides in encrypted off-chain repositories. The consensus protocol employs QKD to distribute fresh symmetric keys among validator nodes, coupled with a quantum-random leader election to resist both classical and quantum adversaries. We describe a prototype implementation using simulated QKD links and Hyperledger Fabric extended for quantum security. Performance evaluation on human chromosome 21 datasets (48 MB total, partitioned into 1 MB fragments) demonstrates sub-one-second average transaction latency and throughput scaling up to 15 fragments per second under concurrent load. Security assessments confirm tamper-evident auditing and confidentiality against unauthorized decryption attempts. We conclude by discussing practical deployment challenges—such as QKD hardware integration, consensus scalability, and regulatory compliance—and outline pathways for integrating advanced privacy-enhancing technologies.