In this talk, I will introduce some topics from my current research on the design of cryptocurrency networks and the potential avenues for attacks. I’ll start with a general introduction to how the peer-to-peer (P2P) layer of blockchain systems works. The P2P layer is crucial for how nodes discover each other, establish connections, and propagate key messages such as transactions and blocks across the network. Building on this foundation, I’ll present two studies exploring vulnerabilities we have found in the Ethereum network. The first examines how nodes in open, permissionless systems can manipulate their connectivity to gain performance advantages. The second focuses on a recent deanonymization attack, demonstrating how to link in-network IDs to IPs of their hosting peers. Through this research, we expose privacy and performance risks in cryptocurrency networks, shedding light on how they can be exploited and how they might be mitigated.

About Lucianna Kiffer

Lucianna Kiffer is a Research Assistant Professor at IMDEA Networks, heading the newly formed Distributed Systems and Networks (DistSys) group. Her research focuses on the foundations of peer-to-peer networks and blockchain systems, including measurement studies, analytical evaluations, and building new protocols. Prior to joining IMDEA Networks, she spent two years at ETH Zürich as a distinguished  postdoctoral fellow from the Cyber Defense Center of Switzerland. She received her PhD and Masters from Northeastern University in Computer Science, and her B.S. in Mathematics and Computer Science from Tulane University.

This event will be conducted in English