Ripple has today published a roadmap to quantum-proof the XRP Ledger (XRPL) by 2028. This is in response to Google’s initial warning that quantum security threats could breach cryptographic systems by 2032, with even fewer resources (about 500,000 physical qubits) than initially estimated.
Phases leading to a quantum-resilient Ripple and XRP
According to Ripple’s blog, the plan begins with preparing contingency plans in the event Q-day (Quantum-Day) arrives earlier than expected. In such a scenario, Ripple intends to execute a “hard shift.” This would disable account access via public keys while enabling funds migration to post-quantum-secure accounts.
The second phase, scheduled for the first half of 2026, involves testing NIST-recommended quantum-secure cryptography standards in partnership with Project Eleven.
This evaluation will provide insight into the effects of post-quantum implementations on XRPL, including transaction speed, costs, and storage requirements. Ripple can then use this information to implement architectural changes designed to mitigate the limitations posed by post-quantum computing (PQC) technology.
The third phase, scheduled for the second half of 2026, involves implementing the above schemes on Devnet. This will allow developers to review usability and performance without affecting the prevailing network.
Concurrently, Ripple will explore the use of PQC technology to enhance privacy for entities tokenizing real-world assets.
Finally, Ripple will propose its tested PQC amendments, targeting full-scale transition following community approval.
Advantage over Bitcoin and Ethereum
Compared to Bitcoin and Ethereum, Ripple boasts native key rotation. In the event of a quantum security threat, this feature allows users to change their cryptographic keys without moving their funds to new addresses.
Additionally, XRPL’s average block time is just 3-5 seconds. This greatly minimizes the time a user’s public key is visible to quantum computers during transaction processing. In comparison, Ethereum and Bitcoin’s average block times are 12 seconds and 10 minutes, respectively.
At press time, XRP was trading at $1.43, up 0.95% in the day. Cardano’s Charles Hoskinson has alleged that Cardano’s underperformance is partly due to Ripple selling XRP to advance its own business.
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