This paper presents a VLSI implementation of the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) optimized for real time security in blockchain based Internet of Things (IoT) systems. The proposed architecture integrates Programmable Cellular Automata (PCA) into key ECDSA operations to improve random number generation and accelerate elliptic curve computations. By combining PCA with efficient hardware modules, the design achieves better area utilization, higher processing speed, and lower power consumption. Comparative analyses indicate that the architecture outperforms conventional ECDSA designs in both performance and resource utilization, making it more suitable for constrained environments. In addition to these improvements, the PCA based structure strengthens security by introducing strong randomness properties and irregular computation patterns, which enhance resistance to side channel, differential, and statistical attacks. Implementations on FPGA and ASIC platforms further validate the effectiveness of the processor, with experimental results on the Xilinx Virtex‑6 FPGA and 45 nm CMOS technology confirming its suitability for lightweight IoT devices.
Guitouni et al. (2026) studied this question.