An apparatus in one embodiment includes at least one processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory. The processing device is configured to implement a first ledger maintenance node. The first ledger maintenance node is configured to communicate over one or more networks with a plurality of additional ledger maintenance nodes, to identify a block for proposed addition to a distributed ledger collectively maintained by the first and additional ledger maintenance nodes, to apply a digital signature of the first ledger maintenance node to the block, and to receive digital signatures on the block from at least a subset of the additional ledger maintenance nodes. Responsive to receipt of sufficient digital signatures from respective ones of the additional ledger maintenance nodes to meet a specified quorum of digital signatures required for addition of the block to the distributed ledger, the first ledger maintenance node adds the block to the distributed ledger.