Cryptography underpins trust in the digital economy, securing communications, financial transactions, passwords, and sensitive records. Blockchain uses the same techniques to authenticate and share records without relying on a central authority, with applications in finance, supply chains, corporate bookkeeping, and digital identity. But these technologies also introduce new vulnerabilities: quantum computing could defeat widely used encryption, while cryptocurrencies raise concerns about illicit finance, energy use, and regulatory oversight. As these technologies advance, policymakers must weigh innovation and security against risks to privacy and civil liberties.
RELATED SOURCES:
- Learn more about emerging technologies and the Stanford Emerging Technology Review (SETR).
- Read SETR Chapter on Cryptography.
Dan Boneh
Professor of Cryptography and Electrical EngineeringDan Boneh is professor of cryptography and electrical engineering at Stanford University, codirector of the Stanford Computer Security Lab, and a senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. His research focuses on applied cryptography and computer security. He has authored over one hundred publications. He received his PhD in computer science from Princeton University.