The Ethereum Foundation (EF) has made post-quantum security a top strategic priority, forming a dedicated team to accelerate engineering, research, and community readiness against quantum computing risks.
EF researcher Justin Drake said the new Post Quantum team will be led by Thomas Coratger, with support from Emile, a cryptographer behind “leanVM,” a core tool in Ethereum’s post-quantum strategy.
“Timelines for quantum risk are shortening,” Drake said. “Ethereum is shifting from background research into active engineering, preparing wallets, transactions, and consensus systems before threats become practical.”
The foundation is funding initiatives to incentivize cryptography improvements, including two $1 million prizes: the Poseidon Prize, aimed at strengthening the Poseidon hash function, and the Proximity Prize, targeting broader post-quantum upgrades.
On the engineering side, EF has launched biweekly developer sessions on post-quantum transactions, led by Antonio Sanso, and multi-client test networks for post-quantum consensus. Weekly interoperability calls are also being held to coordinate efforts across teams.
Drake emphasized that the goal is to update wallets, account formats, and transaction signatures without disrupting daily usage. “The bigger challenge is shipping a safe transition across the entire network,” he said.
EF plans additional community outreach, including a post-quantum event in October, a dedicated post-quantum day in March, educational videos, and enterprise-focused materials. Other ecosystem leaders, like Pantera Capital’s Franklin Bi, noted that blockchains may upgrade faster than traditional financial systems when facing quantum threats.
With these moves, Ethereum is positioning itself as a leader in quantum-resistant blockchain technology, ensuring long-term safety for users and developers alike.
