Ethereum Foundation forms post-quantum team as security concerns grow

Source: PortaldoBitcoin Original Title: Ethereum Foundation forms post-quantum team as security concerns grow Original Link: https://portaldobitcoin.uol.com.br/fundacao-ethereum-forma-equipe-pos-quantica-a-medida-que-crescem-as-preocupacoes-com-seguranca/ The Ethereum Foundation has officially prioritized post-quantum security as a top strategic goal by creating an internal dedicated team, while industry experts warn of increasing threats from quantum computing.

In a recent announcement, Ethereum Foundation researcher Justin Drake revealed the formation of the Post-Quantum (PQ) team, describing the initiative as a decisive “inflection point” for the network’s long-term strategy.

“After years of quiet R&D, EF management officially declared post-quantum security as a top strategic priority,” Drake wrote, stating that Ethereum’s journey toward post-quantum began in 2019. “Now it’s 2026, deadlines are accelerating. It’s time to go all-in on PQ.”

Today marks an inflection point in Ethereum Foundation’s long-term quantum strategy. We have formed a new Post-Quantum (PQ) team, led by Thomas Coratger. Joining him is Emile, one of the world-class talents behind leanVM. leanVM is the cryptographic cornerstone of our entire post-quantum strategy.

According to Drake, the effort will be led by Thomas Coratger and the collaborative team behind LeanVM, which he described as a “cryptographic cornerstone of our entire post-quantum strategy.”

The announcement comes amid growing industry pressure to prepare for a future where quantum computers could compromise current blockchain cryptography. Ethereum, like Bitcoin, relies on elliptic curve cryptography, which researchers say could eventually be broken by sufficiently powerful quantum machines.

Earlier this month, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin warned developers not to delay preparations for the day when a functional quantum computer comes online, arguing that the network should be able to operate for decades without constant updates.

“Being able to say ‘the Ethereum protocol, as it is today, is cryptographically secure for a hundred years’ is something we should aim to achieve as soon as possible and take pride in,” he said.

Starting in February, Drake continued, Ethereum Foundation researcher Antonio Sanso will lead a biweekly parallel call among All Core Developers on post-quantum transactions, focusing on user security issues such as account abstraction, and long-term topics like transaction signature aggregation.

Drake also announced the $1 million Poseidon Prize, a contest to strengthen the Poseidon hash function used in Ethereum applications. “We are betting big on hash-based cryptography to enjoy the strongest and most streamlined cryptographic foundations,” he wrote.

Drake’s work on Ethereum’s post-quantum strategy overlaps with broader industry efforts. He is also a member of a recently formed quantum advisory board focused on assessing how future quantum advances could impact blockchain security and how long-term cryptographic transitions can be managed.

“Believe in something. Believe in post-quantum security.”