A ring signature is a digital signature produced by one member of a group such that verifiers learn the signature came from the group but cannot identify which member signed. It provides signer anonymity within an ad hoc set.
Semantic Classification
Content
- A ring signature lets a signer combine their own key with the public keys of others to form a ring, producing a signature that any verifier can check as valid for the ring without learning the actual signer. No setup or cooperation from the other members is required.
- The construction provides anonymity and is used in privacy-focused cryptocurrencies such as Monero to obscure which input authorises a transaction. It is one of several cryptographic tools for unlinkability alongside zero-knowledge proofs and mixing techniques.