Ethereum Foundation Prioritizes Post-Quantum Security with New Team and Initiatives
The Ethereum Foundation has made a significant move to enhance the network’s long-term security by establishing a dedicated post-quantum team, led by cryptography engineer Thomas Coratger, with support from cryptographer Emile. According to crypto researcher Justin Drake, this development marks a key milestone in the foundation’s efforts to address the potential risks posed by quantum computing to the Ethereum network.
Drake noted that the new team will focus on developing and implementing post-quantum security measures, with a core building block being LeanVM, a specialized, minimalist, zero-knowledge virtual machine (zkVM). This initiative is part of the foundation’s broader strategy to prepare the ecosystem for the potential threats and opportunities presented by quantum computing.
Supporting the Post-Quantum Push with Developer Sessions and Funding
To drive progress in post-quantum security, the Ethereum Foundation is launching a series of bi-weekly developer sessions, starting next month, which will be led by Ethereum researcher Antonio Sanso. These sessions will delve into user-side protections, including protocol-level cryptographic tools, account abstraction paths, and longer-term work on transaction signature aggregation using LeanVM.
In addition to these developer sessions, the foundation is also providing financial support for post-quantum research and development. This includes a $1 million Poseidon Prize to strengthen the Poseidon hash function and another $1 million initiative, the Proximity Prize, both aimed at advancing post-quantum cryptography.
Ethereum is preparing for the quantum age. Source: Justin Drake
On the technical front, Drake highlighted that multi-client post-quantum consensus development networks are already operational, with multiple teams participating and coordinating through weekly interoperability calls. Furthermore, the foundation will host a special post-quantum event in October, followed by a post-quantum day at the end of March, as part of the EthCC conference.
Industry Response to Quantum Risks
Coinbase has also taken steps to address the potential risks posed by quantum computing, establishing an independent advisory board to assess the impact of quantum advances on the cryptography securing major blockchain networks, including Bitcoin and Ethereum. This board, comprising experts from academia and industry, will publish public research and guidance for developers, organizations, and users, with the first position paper expected in early 2027.
As the crypto market becomes increasingly sensitive to quantum risks, these initiatives by the Ethereum Foundation and Coinbase demonstrate a proactive approach to addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by quantum computing. For more information on this development, visit the original article.
