Systems and Methods for a Quantum Safe Certificate Ledger

A method for a quantum safe blockchain node to generate a pending register certificate transaction, the method performed by the quantum safe blockchain node (QSBN), the method comprising:

• a) storing in a nonvolatile memory (i) a post-quantum cryptography (PQC) digital signature algorithm, (ii) a private key and corresponding public key for the PQC digital signature algorithm, (iii) a one-time signature (OTS) index value associated with the public key, and (iv) a contract address for a register certificate transaction;
• b) receiving, via a network interface, a uniform resource locator (URL) for a certificate, an address for an owner of the certificate, a first registration number for a parent certificate of the certificate, and at least one of a fingerprint for the certificate and the certificate;
• c) storing, in a RAM memory, data for a pending register certificate transaction comprising the public key, a transaction nonce comprising the OTS index value, a transaction amount, the address for the owner, the fingerprint for the certificate, the URL, the first registration number, and an expiration time for the certificate;
• d) generating, by a processor, a PQC digital signature using the PQC digital signature algorithm, the private key, and the OTS index value, the PQC digital signature over at least the data for the pending register certificate transaction;
• e) transmitting, by the network interface, to a blockchain network the data for the pending register certificate transaction and the digital signature and receiving a confirmed register certificate transaction for a block, the data, the digital signature, and a second registration number for the certificate;
• and
• f) storing, from the confirmed register certificate transaction, at least the fingerprint for the certificate, the first registration number for the parent certificate, and the second registration number for the certificate.