Linkable Ring Signature Scheme Using Biometric Cryptosystem and NIZK and Its Application

Xuechun Mao,Gengran Hu,Liqin Hu,Lin You,Chengtang Cao,David W Chadwick

doi:10.1155/2021/7266564

Xuechun Mao, Gengran Hu + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/7266564

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Abstract

Biometric encryption, especially based on fingerprint, plays an important role in privacy protection and identity authentication. In this paper, we construct a privacy-preserving linkable ring signature scheme. In our scheme, we utilize a fuzzy symmetric encryption scheme called symmetric keyring encryption (SKE) to hide the secret key and use non-interactive zero-knowledge (NIZK) protocol to ensure that we do not leak any information about the message. Unlike the blind signature, we use NIZK protocol to cancel the interaction between the signer (the prover) and the verifier. The security proof shows that our scheme is secure under the random oracle model. Finally, we implement it on a personal computer and analyze the performance of the constructed scheme in practical terms. Based on the constructed scheme and demo, we give an anonymous cryptocurrency transaction model as well as mobile demonstration.

Highlights

With the advantages of decentralized control and anonymous payment, cryptocurrency is gradually replacing the traditional payment mode
In order to improve anonymity, researchers have proposed various privacy protection schemes, such as Dash based on the mixed coins protocol, Monero based on the CryptoNote protocol, and Zerocoin [2] based on the Zero-Knowledge Succinct Non-interactive Arguments of Knowledge protocol [3], etc
We construct a linkable ring signature scheme based on non-interactive zero-knowledge (NIZK) and symmetric keyring encryption (SKE) protocols to enhance the status of privacy-preserving

Summary

Introduction

With the advantages of decentralized control and anonymous payment, cryptocurrency is gradually replacing the traditional payment mode. E research work [1] has shown that attackers can improperly obtain the actual identity of a bitcoin’s owner or even other users through proxy addresses. In order to improve anonymity, researchers have proposed various privacy protection schemes, such as Dash based on the mixed coins protocol, Monero based on the CryptoNote protocol, and Zerocoin [2] based on the Zero-Knowledge Succinct Non-interactive Arguments of Knowledge (zk-SNARK) protocol [3], etc. In 2015, Noether [4] improved Monero’s original CryptoNote protocol by using a variant of linkable ring signature, which was called Ring Confidential Transactions (Ring CT). In the Ring CT protocol, Noether improved the “one-time ring signature” to linkable ring signature as the core cryptoprimitive to provide anonymity, which could meet the actual transaction needs, and prevent the occurrence of double spending in transactions. Sasson et al [2] proposed Zerocash, which used zkSNARK protocol to construct the anonymous electronic cash system to protect the privacy of users and transaction amounts

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