Which of the following is a characteristic of asymmetric encryption?

In asymmetric encryption, each participant has a pair of keys: a public key, which can be shared openly, and a private key, which is kept secret. This unique key pairing allows for two primary functions: achieving confidentiality, where data encrypted with the public key can only be decrypted by the corresponding private key, and providing digital signatures, which verify the authenticity of a message. This dual functionality of maintaining confidentiality and enabling digital signatures is a defining characteristic of asymmetric encryption, making option B the correct choice.

In contrast, using the same key for both encryption and decryption is characteristic of symmetric encryption and does not apply to asymmetric methods. Asymmetric encryption is generally slower than symmetric encryption due to the complexity of the algorithms and key pairs involved, which means that it cannot be considered faster. Additionally, asymmetric encryption is more complex than hashing, which is a one-way function and does not involve key pairs or the same level of cryptographic operations.