StarkWare presents an ambitious quantum protection roadmap for Starknet: three phases to full security
The cryptocurrency industry is increasingly preparing for the quantum threat, and StarkWare, the developer of the L2 network Starknet, is at the forefront. The company has unveiled a three-stage roadmap for transitioning to post-quantum cryptography, calling it the "strongest" in the sector. The plan involves replacing all dependencies on elliptic curves and creating tools for migrating existing contracts.
Stage One: Replacing Vulnerable Hashes
In the initial stage, StarkWare will replace Pedersen hashing with BLAKE2. This is critically important because Pedersen is based on algebraic structures linked to elliptic curves, which are vulnerable to powerful quantum computers. BLAKE2, being a hash function, is less susceptible to such attacks. Additionally, the implementation of post-quantum consensus signatures, including Falcon-512, is planned. The team is confident that the network can be prepared for part of the threats "within months."
Stage Two: Migrating Old Contracts
The second phase focuses on migration tools for legacy contracts. Their goal is to ensure a smooth transition for applications and wallets to new cryptographic schemes without breaking compatibility. This will avoid abrupt disruptions and preserve the functionality of the ecosystem.
Stage Three: Dependence on Ethereum
The final stage hinges on the post-quantum migration of the underlying Ethereum network. Starknet cannot independently update system calls for bridges and data availability via BLOB objects, as they depend on Ethereum's infrastructure. This is a key limitation that highlights the interdependence of L2 solutions.
Why is Starknet Ahead?
Starknet's architectural advantage lies in its use of STARK proofs, which are built on hash functions rather than elliptic curves. This makes them inherently post-quantum resistant. Furthermore, native account abstraction allows wallets to change signature schemes without hard forks, simplifying migration. Already in April 2026, the post-quantum wallet S2morrow based on Falcon-512 was launched.
StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson calls the confidence in the security of blockchains on elliptic curves an "elliptic illusion." He emphasizes that tools for protection already exist, but the industry is reacting too slowly. Of particular concern is the combination of quantum computing with AI, which could accelerate the threat. For comparison, Google estimates that cracking 256-bit cryptography would require about 1,200 logical qubits — significantly fewer than previous calculations.
Expert Opinion
StarkWare's roadmap is not just a technical step but a bid for leadership in the race for post-quantum security. While the Ethereum Foundation and Ripple plan to complete migration by 2029 and 2028 respectively, Starknet could become the first major L2 fully prepared for the quantum era. However, dependence on Ethereum remains an Achilles' heel: without an update to the base network, all efforts may be half-hearted. The market must realize that the quantum threat is not a hypothetical scenario but a matter of time, and delay here is tantamount to the risk of losing funds.