Synchronized DNA sources for unconditionally secure cryptography

2026-03-17

AI Summary

This work addresses the practical limitations of one-time pad (OTP) encryption stemming from the lack of scalable true random key distribution. The authors propose a remote synchronized entropy source based on synthetic DNA molecules, wherein two parties generate identical binary masks for OTP by locally performing high-throughput sequencing on a shared pool of random DNA strands—achieving information-theoretic security without relying on computational assumptions. This approach pioneers DNA as a robust, scalable carrier of synchronized entropy and integrates molecular copy-number statistics to defend against two canonical attack models, thereby overcoming the distance constraints inherent in traditional quantum key distribution. In an intercontinental experiment between Tokyo and Paris, the system successfully produced approximately 400 Mb of shared secret key with a decryption failure rate as low as 2⁻¹²⁸, achieving min-entropy compliant with NIST SP 800-90B and performance comparable to certified true random number generators.

Technology Category

• Search and Optimization: Distributed Search
• Constraint Satisfaction and Optimization: Distributed CSP/Optimization
• Machine Learning: Quantum Machine Learning

Application Category

• Security and Privacy: Large-scale security measurements
• Responsible Web: Data and user privacy-enhancing technologies for the Web
• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Incentives in network design for Web infrastructures and ecosystems

Abstract

Secure communication is the cornerstone of modern infrastructures, yet achieving unconditional security -resistant to any computational attack- remains a fundamental challenge. The One-Time Pad (OTP), proven by Shannon to offer perfect secrecy, requires a shared random key as long as the message, used only once. However, distributing large keys over long distances has been impractical due to the lack of secure and scalable sharing options. Here, we introduce a DNA-based cryptographic primitive that leverages random pools of synthetic DNA to install a synchronized entropy source between distant parties. Our approach uses duplicated DNA molecules -comprising random index-payload pairs- as a shared secret. These molecules are locally sequenced and digitized to generate a common binary mask for OTP encryption, achieving unconditional security without relying on computational assumptions. We experimentally demonstrate this protocol between Tokyo and Paris, using in-house sequencing, generating a shared secret mask of $\sim$ 400 Mb with a residual error rate to achieve the usual overall decryption failure rate of $2^{-128}$. The min-entropy of the binary mask meets the most recent National Institute of Standards and Technology requirements (SP 800-90B), and is comparable to that of approved cryptographic random number generators. Critically, our system can resist two types of adversarial interference through molecular copy-number statistics, providing an additional layer of security reminiscent of Quantum Key Distribution, but without distance limitations. This work establishes DNA as a scalable entropy source for long-distance OTP, enabling high-throughput and secure communications in sensitive contexts. By bridging molecular biology and cryptography, DNA-based key distribution opens a promising new route toward unconditional security in global communication networks.

Problem

• unconditional security
• One-Time Pad
• key distribution
• long-distance communication
• perfect secrecy

Innovation

• DNA-based cryptography
• One-Time Pad
• unconditional security
• synchronized entropy source
• molecular copy-number statistics