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Ethereum Foundation Forms Post-Quantum Team, Declares Security Top Priority

Published by
Zafar Naik and Qadir AK

The Ethereum Foundation has formed a dedicated Post-Quantum (PQ) team and named quantum security a top strategic priority for the network.

EF researcher Justin Drake announced the team will be led by Thomas Coratger, with support from leanVM cryptographer Emile. After years of research, Ethereum is now moving into a full build phase.

Drake said, “Today marks an inflection in the Ethereum Foundation’s long-term quantum strategy.” He added, “It’s now 2026, timelines are accelerating. Time to go full PQ.”

The official Ethereum page reposted the announcement with one line: “Ethereum is for quantum resistance.”

$2 Million in Prizes, Devnets Already Live

The Foundation is putting serious money behind this push. A $1 million Poseidon Prize will go toward hardening the Poseidon hash function. Another $1 million Proximity Prize targets broader PQ research.

Multi-client PQ consensus devnets are already running. Teams like Lighthouse, Prysm, and Grandine are joining weekly calls to coordinate progress.

Bi-weekly developer sessions on PQ transactions start next month, led by Antonio Sanso. The focus will be on cryptographic precompiles, account abstraction, and signature aggregation.

Why Ethereum Is Acting Now

Vitalik Buterin has said there’s a 20% chance quantum computers could break current cryptography before 2030. Google’s Willow chip launch last year added to the urgency.

Buterin previously warned, “We should resist the trap of saying ‘let’s delay quantum-resistance until the last possible moment in the name of ekeing out more efficiencies for a while longer.'”

He also stressed that “Ethereum itself must pass the walkaway test,” meaning the protocol should stay secure for 100 years without relying on constant maintenance.

What’s Next

The EF will host a 3-day PQ workshop in October and a PQ day on March 29 in Cannes before EthCC. A 6-part ZKPodcast video series is also in the works.

A full roadmap targeting zero fund loss and zero downtime will go live on pq.ethereum.org. Ethereum has also joined Coinbase’s newly formed PQ advisory board.

FAQs

How will post-quantum security affect Ethereum smart contract developers?

Most contracts won’t need changes initially, but developers may later adopt new signature schemes and precompiles for quantum-safe transactions.

What post-quantum tools are Ethereum developers testing right now?

Developers are testing PQ consensus devnets, cryptographic precompiles, and signature aggregation methods across multiple Ethereum clients.

Do Ethereum client teams need to upgrade differently for post-quantum security?

Client teams are coordinating on shared standards, ensuring post-quantum changes remain compatible across execution and consensus clients.

Zafar Naik and Qadir AK

Zafar is a seasoned crypto and blockchain news writer with four years of experience. Known for accuracy, in-depth analysis, and a clear, engaging style, Zafar actively participates in blockchain communities. Beyond writing, Zafar enjoys trading and exploring the latest trends in the crypto market.

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