Key Insights:
- Ethereum created a post-quantum team to develop cryptographic defenses.
- Cryptography Workshops and research prizes are intended to promote the use of hash-based cryptography.
- To prevent loss of time and money, a transition guide will outline the steps to be followed.
The Ethereum Foundation has made post-quantum security a high-level strategic priority, marking a formal change to the network’s long-term cryptographic roadmap. To accelerate the research, development, and testing of cryptographic defences against potential advances in quantum computing, the organization has established an internal Post-Quantum (PQ) team.
Post-Quantum Team and Developer Coordination Framework
Ethereum Foundation researcher Justin Drake disclosed the initiative in a social media post, describing the establishment of the Post-Quantum team as a major inflection point in the network’s security strategy.
The foundation’s program spans infrastructure development, protocol research, interoperability testing, and community coordination across client teams and researchers.
The Ethereum Foundation confirmed that Antonio Sanso will begin biweekly All Core Devs Post-Quantum breakout calls next month.
These calls will address user-facing security considerations, including dedicated cryptographic precompiles, account abstraction frameworks, and transaction signature aggregation using leanVM.
https://twitter.com/drakefjustin/status/2014791629408784816
The coordination structure aims to align core protocol development with cryptographic transition planning and client-level implementation.
The foundation also reported that multi-client post-quantum consensus development networks are already operational.
Development teams participating in the effort include Zeam, Ream Labs, PierTwo, Gean client, and Ethlambda, working alongside established Ethereum consensus clients Lighthouse, Grandine, and Prysm.
Hash-Based Focus and Cryptographic Research Incentives
The Ethereum Foundation announced two contests worth $ 2 million to bolster the cryptography community.
The Poseidon Prize will be concerned with finalizing the hardening of the Poseidon hash function, whereas the Proximity Prize remains dedicated to research in hash-based cryptography.
The foundation stated that it is prioritizing hash-based cryptographic primitives as part of its post-quantum security strategy, aiming to establish lean, resilient cryptographic building blocks.
According to Drake, specialized mathematics AI completed a complex lemma related to hash-based SNARK foundations in an eight-hour run with a reported cost of $200. The foundation is incorporating such developments into its research workflow.
Workshops, Developer Events, and Educational Materials
The Ethereum Foundation is planning multiple in-person and virtual events to coordinate post-quantum research.
A three-day expert workshop is scheduled for October and will bring together specialists from various regions to discuss cryptographic transition planning and protocol design. The workshop builds on a previous post-quantum event held in Cambridge.
Additionally, a dedicated post-quantum day is scheduled for March 29 in Cannes ahead of EthCC. The event will provide developers, researchers, and stakeholders with a platform to coordinate research and implementation strategies.
It is also building educational content, such as a six-part video series created in partnership with ZKPodcast and company-oriented documentation using EF Enterprise Acceleration.
Guidelines and Objectives for the Post-Quantum Transition and Network Stability
The Ethereum Foundation intends to publish an extensive transition guide on pq.ethereum.org outlining the steps to move the network to quantum-resistant cryptography.
The guide will include procedures designed to prevent downtime and ensure that user funds are not lost during the transition.
According to the organization, the transition plan shall be implemented in several steps. It shall provide strategic direction for protocol upgrades and user migration pathways.
Industry viewpoints on Quantum Timelines
Ethereum teacher Sassal0x has stated that quantum computing is something to worry about in the near future, and the chief executive of Block stream has said quantum threats are decades off.
Pantera Capital general partner Franklin Bi noted that blockchain systems could be better positioned to implement cryptographic upgrades than traditional financial institutions, as blockchain networks can implement global updates.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has previously referenced forecast data suggesting the possibility of cryptographic breaks occurring before 2030.
Meanwhile, ZKsync creator Alex Gluk pointed to the network’s Airbender prover, which he described as providing a fully post-quantum proof system, as an example of Ethereum’s adaptability to emerging threats.
Post-Quantum Development Networks and Implementation Strategy
The Ethereum Foundation confirmed that post-quantum development networks are already in operation, enabling testing of consensus and cryptographic upgrades in multi-client environments.
The foundation stated that collaboration among multiple independent client teams is intended to reduce implementation risks and ensure protocol consistency across the ecosystem.
The foundation’s post-quantum roadmap includes infrastructure testing, cryptographic research, protocol-level upgrades, and developer coordination.
Regular interoperability calls and developer meetings are intended to ensure that post-quantum cryptographic features are implemented consistently across execution and consensus clients.
