Technical dictionary
Digital signature
Cryptographic proof that a message was authorized by a private key holder—core of blockchain spends and many enterprise authentications.
Definition
Digital signatures let verifiers check authenticity and integrity using a public key. Blockchains use them to authorize transactions; enterprises use them in certificates, code signing, and tokens.
Classical schemes (ECDSA, Ed25519, RSA) are the primary quantum concern via Shor’s algorithm when public keys are known.