Blockchain oracle provider API3 and researchers at Australia National University have joined forces to launch the world’s first Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG), which will enable Web3 entities to access a completely unpredictable random number generation system that is highly secure and free to use. According to a report on Cointelegraph.com, while random generators are not new, the QRNG system is the first of its kind to generate a random number using quantum mechanics, providing the first genuinely random number mechanism beyond the pseudo-mathematical systems currently used that may be biased or repeated.
The way the news outlet explains it, with several traditional applications for random numbers, such as gambling and lotteries, sports and competitions, and sampling and statistics, a tamper-proof and true random number generator not reliant on these parties will be required as more organizations look to embrace the Web3 world. As highlighted by Cointelegraph, API3’s QRNG measures random quantum fluctuations in phase and amplitude of an electromagnetic field in a vacuum to guarantee unpredictable randomness and generate the numbers.
In an interview with the news outlet, Aaron Tranter from the ANU Research School of Physics explained the process: “Quantum mechanics predicts that a vacuum, generally regarded as the absence of ‘things,’ actually contains particles popping in and out of existence. This is the origin of the term vacuum noise. This noise is fundamentally random and can actually be measured using a laser, optics and some fast electronics. We measure these fluctuations and convert them into random numbers which are then served to the AWS cloud for distribution via an API gateway.”
The QRNG system, which is currently available as an API for 13 blockchains including Ethereum, BNB Chain, Arbitrum, Avalanche, Optimism, Polygon, Fantom and Moonbeam, does not require any payment to use, Cointelegraph noted, albeit there is a minor network fee for calling the API. The news outlet goes on to mention how Web3 and Metaverse gaming could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of these kinds of systems, as games continuously rely on a degree of randomness and unpredictability to keep players engaged, while gambling applications would also greatly benefit from this system, which could result in greater trust from players.
Tranter also highlighted that people can use random numbers for whatever application they want, from the generation of unique NFTs and artwork to automated decision making, telling Cointelegraph: “For example, if your wanted to draw randomly from a pool of clients for a task then you would want to ensure that you are truly sampling randomly. This could include distribution of resources, assigning of tasks and even decentralized quorums for voting.” In addition, Tranter said QRNGs can also be used for crypto wallet generation since the current solution of pseudo-random number generators can often result in repetition or have exploitable complex patterns, the news outlet noted.
“A QRNG is guaranteed to be truly random by the law of quantum mechanics, removing this loophole,” Tranter added, as published by Cointelegraph. Web3 applications that involve public participation such as random token distribution or drawn winners will also benefit from a tamper-proof system, the news outlet explained. API QRNG is hosted by the Australia National University Quantum Optics Group on Amazon Web Services (AWS), and all data passed servers is encrypted, the news outlet concluded, adding that the random numbers are destroyed after use, which means the firm never has access to them.
- ResearchersAtAustraliaNationalUniversityTeamUpWithAPI3toLaunchTheWorld’sFirstQuantumRandomNumberGenerator(QRNG)whichIsHighlySecureAndAllowsWeb3entitiesToAccessTheCompletelyUnpredictableRandomNumberGenerationSystemBeyondThePseudoMathematicalSystemsNowUsedThatMayBeBiasedOrRepeated
- WithSeveralTraditionalApplicationsForRandomNumbersIncludingGambling&Lotteries/Sports&CompetitionsAndSampling&StatisticsAPI3’sQRNGreportedlyMeasuresRandomQuantumFluctuationsInPhaseAndAmplitudeOfAnElectromagneticFieldInVacuumToGuaranteeUnpredictableRandomnessAndGenerateTheNumbers
- TheQRNGsystemWhichIsNowAvailableAsAnAPIfor13blockchainsSuchAsEthereum/BNBChain/Arbitrum/Avalanche/Optimism/Polygon/FantomAndMoonbeamDoesNotRequireAnyPaymentToUseAlbeitThereIsMinorNetworkFeeeForCallingTheAPIWhileWeb3&GamingCouldBeOneOfTheBiggestBeneficiariesOfQRNG
https://cointelegraph.com/news/quantum-based-random-number-generator-for-web3-games-and-wallets-launched