GENERATING RANDOMNESS IN DISTRIBUTED AND TRUSTLESS SETTINGS

Generation of randomness (e.g., a random value) using a protocol based on quantum weak coin flipping amongst a plurality of participating parties. The protocol allows computation of the exact initial bias and may include determining a number of rounds of exchange in a quantum weak coin flipping algorithm to achieve a predetermined maximum bias value. In turn, quantum weak coin flipping may be performed in a pair-wise fashion amongst all of the plurality of participating parties. A result of each pair-wise quantum weak coin flipping instance may be shared with another of the plurality of participating parties other than the parties participating in generating the result. In turn, the results of each pair-wise quantum weak coin flipping instance may be combined to provide a random value that may be used as a cryptographic key or as a seed to some cryptographic function.