Giulia Scaffino

PhD candidate at TU Wien.
Blockchain Consultant at Common Prefix.

Hi, I’m Giulia: welcome to my personal website!

After earning my master’s degree in Nuclear Physics, I discovered an exciting new passion for computer science, starting my journey into the world of computing and blockchain technologies.
I am a currently a Ph.D. candidate in Computer Science at the Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien), specializing in Security and Privacy under the guidance of Univ.Prof. Matteo Maffei and Dr. Zeta Avarikioti. Since 2024, I have also been working with the team at Common Prefix , where we provide expert blockchain consulting.

My research interests span into blockchain interoperability, scalability protocols, sparse and light clients, layer-2 solutions, and crypto-economic incentives. My goal is to advance both the security and efficiency of decentralized systems. You can download my CV here.

Beyond my professional pursuits, I’m also an avid bookworm with a love for stories across all genres. Dive into some of my all-time favorite reads here.

My work experience

Salesforce Developer at Deloitte Digital (Milan)
Aug 2023

Education

Ph.D. in Computer Science at the Vienna University of Technology

Security and Privacy Group, supervised by Univ.Prof. Matteo Maffei and Dr. Zeta Avarikioti

M.Sc., Majoring in Nuclear Physics at Univeristy of Pavia (Italy)

M.Sc. thesis: “Analysis of the π0 photoproduction in the ∆(1232) region".
Supervisors: Dr. Susanna Costanza and Dr. Edoardo Mornacchi

B.Sc., Majoring in Physics at Univeristy of Pavia (Italy)

Things I Can Do

There are many things I am passionate about, here are some of my main interests:

  • Chryptography and Protocols
  • Blockchain Technology
  • Good Books
  • Yoga and Meditation
  • Hiking
  • Connecting with People

Publications

  • Sunfish: Reading Ledger with Sparse Node
    Co-Authors: G Scaffino , K Wüst, D Maram, A Sonnino, L Kokoris-Kogias
    In submission at Financial Cryptography and Data Security, 2025. [Link]
  • Blink: An Optimal Proof of Proof-of-Work
    Co-Authors: L Aumayr, Z Avarikioti, M Maffei, G Scaffino, D Zindros
    In submission at Financial Cryptography and Data Security, 2025. [Link]
  • Alba: The Dawn of Scalable Bridges for Blockchains
    Co-Authors: G Scaffino, L Aumayr, M Bastankhah, Z Avarikioti, M Maffei
    Accepted at NDSS, 2025. [Link]
  • Glimpse: On-Demand PoW Light Client with Constant-Size Storage for DeFi
    Co-Authors: G Scaffino, L Aumayr, Z Avarikioti, M Maffei
    32nd USENIX Security Symposium, 2023. [Link]