<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<article article-type="Research Article">
  <front>
    <journal-meta>
      <journal-id journal-id-type="publisher">journal-of-discrete-mathematical-sciences-and-cryptography</journal-id>
      <journal-title-group>
        <journal-title>Journal of Discrete Mathematical Sciences and Cryptography</journal-title>
      </journal-title-group>
      <issn publication-format="electronic">2169-0065</issn>
      <issn publication-format="print">0972-0529</issn>
      <publisher>
        <publisher-name>Taru Publications</publisher-name>
      </publisher>
    </journal-meta>
    <article-meta>
      <article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.47974/JDMSC-2585</article-id>
      <title-group>
        <article-title>Quantum-resistant hierarchical consensus protocol (QRHCP) for enhanced security in blockchain networks</article-title>
      </title-group>
      <contrib-group>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Sharma</surname>
            <given-names>Neha</given-names>
          </name>
          <aff>Department of Data Science and Engineering, Vill Dehmi kalan, Manipal University Jaipur, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 303007, India</aff>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Soni</surname>
            <given-names>Sagar</given-names>
          </name>
          <aff>Department of Information Technology, Vill Dehmi kalan, Manipal University Jaipur, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 303007, India</aff>
        </contrib>
      </contrib-group>
      <volume>28</volume>
      <issue>8</issue>
      <fpage>3091</fpage>
      <lpage>3100</lpage>
      <pub-date date-type="pub">
        <day>08</day>
        <month>12</month>
        <year>2025</year>
      </pub-date>
      <abstract>
        <p>Blockchain networks face escalating security challenges, including quantum computing threats, Sybil attacks, and scalability bottlenecks. Existing consensus mechanisms like Proof-of-Work (PoW) and Proof-of-Stake (PoS) lack adaptive security features and quantum resistance. This paper introduces the Quantum-Resistant Hierarchical Consensus Protocol (QRHCP), a novel hybrid framework combining Hierarchical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (HBFT), lattice-based post-quantum signatures, dynamic sharding, and a deception-based Sybil resistance mechanism. QRHCP organizes nodes in a multi-layered validation hierarchy, where root validators finalize blocks while edge validators process lightweight transactions. To counter quantum threats, we integrate CRYSTALS-Dilithium signatures in a dual-signature scheme, ensuring backward compatibility while transitioning to quantum-safe cryptography. Additionally, Adaptive Dynamic Sharding (ADS) optimizes network performance by dynamically splitting or merging shards based on real-time threat analysis. We evaluate QRHCP against Byzantine attack resistance, quantum vulnerability, and transaction throughput using a custom blockchain simulator. Results show 40% faster consensus latency compared to PBFT, 99.9% Sybil attack detection via the Decoy Chain Mechanism (DCM), and scalability up to 10,000 TPS under adaptive sharding. Our work provides a provably secure, quantum-resistant, and highly scalable consensus model for next-generation blockchain applications.</p>
      </abstract>
      <kwd-group>
        <kwd>Blockchain security</kwd>
        <kwd>Quantum resistance</kwd>
        <kwd>Hierarchical consensus</kwd>
        <kwd>Adaptive sharding</kwd>
        <kwd>Post-quantum cryptography</kwd>
      </kwd-group>
      <custom-meta-group>
        <custom-meta>
          <meta-name>access</meta-name>
          <meta-value>open</meta-value>
        </custom-meta>
        <custom-meta>
          <meta-name>retracted</meta-name>
          <meta-value>no</meta-value>
        </custom-meta>
      </custom-meta-group>
    </article-meta>
  </front>
</article>
