Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Publication Date

Fall 12-15-2025

Abstract

Building on prior concepts of electronic money (eCash), we introduce a digital currency where a physical unclonable function (PUF) engenders devices with the twin properties of being verifiably enrolled as a member of a legitimate set of eCash devices and possessing of a hardware-based root-of-trust. A hardware-obfuscated secure enclave (HOSE) is proposed as a means of enabling a PUF-based propagation-of-provenance (POP) mechanism, which allows eCash tokens (eCt) to be securely signed and validated by recipients without incurring any third party dependencies at transfer time. The POP scheme establishes a chain of custody starting with token creation, extending through multiple bilateral in-field transactions, and culminating in redemption at the token-issuing authority. A light-weight mutual-zero-trust (MZT) authentication protocol establishes a secure channel between any two fielded devices. The POP and MZT protocols, in combination with the HOSE, enables transitivity and anonymity of eCt transfers between online and offline devices.

Keywords

electronic money, digital currency, physical unclonable functions

Document Type

Thesis

Language

English

Degree Name

Computer Engineering

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Electrical and Computer Engineering

First Committee Member (Chair)

Dr. Jim Plusquellic

Second Committee Member

Dr. Eirini Tsiropoulou

Third Committee Member

Dr. Cyrus Minwalla

Available for download on Monday, December 15, 2025

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