Ethereum will receive protection against quantum threats - ForkLog: cryptocurrencies, AI, singularity, the future

Froklog · 2026-02-27T14:25:02+00:00

Ethereum will implement quantum-resistant measures with a significant upgrade in 2026, addressing vulnerabilities in four key areas. This includes replacing current validator signatures with hash-based cryptography and introducing a new transaction type to support various cryptographic systems. The upgrade aims to ensure security against quantum threats while optimizing transaction costs and efficiency.

Froklog

2026-02-27 14:25:02

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# Ethereum Will Receive Protection Against Quantum Threats

The Ethereum network will implement protection against quantum threats. In 2026, a major update to encryption algorithms and transaction verification methods is expected on the blockchain.

Now, the quantum resistance roadmap.

Today, four things in Ethereum are vulnerable to quantum attacks:

* consensus layer BLS signatures
* data availability (KZG commitments + proofs)
* EOA signatures (ECDSA)
* application layer ZK proofs (KZG or groth16)

We can address these step by step:…

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) February 26, 2026

Currently, the protocol has four components vulnerable to quantum computers. These are consensus-level signatures, data availability, user address algorithms, and ZK proofs. The update plan involves a phased overhaul of the network.

Validator signatures will be completely replaced with hash-based cryptography. A fast hashing algorithm will be selected for the new system, as standard solutions are slow.

The network will abandon the current verification system (KZG) in favor of STARK proofs. This will require extensive technical work. The new algorithms take up a lot of space. The team will need to optimize data storage.

User Wallets

A new type of transaction with abstracted validation and gas fees (EIP-8141) will be added to the protocol. This will allow any cryptographic system, not just ECDSA, to be used for signing transactions. Quantum-resistant algorithms are larger and more expensive. To prevent network fees from rising, the network will update mathematical computation mechanisms.

Quantum-secure proofs require prohibitively high fees—around 10 million gas. The solution will be protocol-level aggregation. Transactions will be verified before inclusion in a block, in the mempool. Nodes will send only one “light” proof of the correctness of all computations to the main network every half second. This will reduce system load and lower operation costs.

Recall that in January, the Ethereum Foundation announced post-quantum security as one of its main strategic priorities and formed a dedicated team of developers.

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