The Ethereum ecosystem has taken its preparations to the institutional level against a future in which quantum computers could threaten cryptography. The Ethereum Foundation announced that it has established a dedicated Post-Quantum (PQ) security team to protect the long-term security of the network and launched a $2 million bounty program to encourage research. While the initiative was announced to the public through the posts of Justin Drake, one of the foundation’s senior researchers, it was emphasized that the timelines were accelerating and the perception of risk was increasing. The move is not just a technical update, but represents a strategic change of direction for Ethereum’s next decade.
Ethereum’s Corporate Move Towards Quantum Resistance
The Post-Quantum security team, created within the Ethereum Foundation, is led by cryptography engineer Thomas Coratger. The team is supported by cryptographer Emile, who is closely associated with the foundation’s leanVM project. Justin Drake describes the leanVM architecture, which focuses on zero-knowledge proofs and is optimized for quantum-resistant hash-based signatures, as the cornerstone of Ethereum’s post-quantum security approach.
This area, which was given priority status by the foundation’s senior management, turned into an official strategy after years of silent research and development. Drake stated that by 2026, the pace of development of quantum computers has increased and there is no longer the luxury of waiting. In this framework, the goal is to increase the durability of the network before existing cryptographic assumptions become obsolete.
On the engineering side, progress has already begun. Lighthouse and Grandine clients have deployed post-quantum consensus development networks; The Prysm client is also expected to participate in the process. Additionally, under the leadership of Antonio Sanso, regular bi-weekly developer meetings on quantum resistant operations were planned. At the community level, a three-day workshop in October and a special session before EthCC in March are scheduled.
Funding, Sectoral Repercussions and Strategic Implications
The Ethereum Foundation supports technical preparations with a strong incentive mechanism. The $1 million Poseidon Prize, which aims to strengthen the Poseidon hash function, which is at the center of zero-knowledge proof systems, has been announced. This award is being considered alongside the $1 million Proximity Prize, announced last year and aimed at broader post-quantum cryptography research. The funding structure aims to accelerate academic and industrial contributions.
The development comes amid growing sensitivity to quantum risks in the crypto sector. Coinbase has formed an independent advisory board to examine quantum threats to blockchain networks. In addition to Justin Drake, the board includes names such as Dan Boneh from Stanford and Scott Aaronson from the University of Texas. This table shows that risk is no longer just a theoretical topic.
From a strategic perspective, Ethereum’s approach differs markedly from competing networks. Quantum resistance was defined as an indispensable security condition within the framework of the “walkaway test” previously mentioned by Vitalik Buterin. Buterin evaluates the probability of the emergence of quantum computers that can break existing cryptography before 2030 at 20 percent. While the adaptation process, which may require hard forks on the Bitcoin side, is being discussed, Ethereum’s account abstraction roadmap offers a more flexible transition opportunity. As a matter of fact, Jefferies strategist Christopher Wood’s removal of Bitcoin from his model portfolio, citing quantum risk, clearly reveals the change in perception in the markets.
