The Ethereum Foundation has launched a dedicated post-quantum (PQ) security team to strengthen the network against future quantum computing threats, calling the effort a top strategic priority. Senior researcher Justin Drake said the initiative marks a shift from years of quiet research to full-scale implementation.

The team will be led by cryptographic engineer Thomas Coratger, with support from leanVM contributor Emile. Drake described leanVM — a minimalist zero-knowledge virtual machine designed for quantum-resistant, hash-based signatures — as the foundation of Ethereum’s PQ strategy.

To back the push, the foundation announced a $1 million Poseidon Prize to reinforce a key hash function used in Ethereum’s zero-knowledge systems, adding to a previously unveiled $1 million Proximity Prize for broader post-quantum cryptography research.

On the technical side, multi-client PQ consensus devnets are already underway, with Lighthouse and Grandine live and Prysm expected soon. Biweekly developer calls on PQ transactions will begin next month, alongside community events later this year.

The move comes as the crypto industry sharpens its focus on quantum risk. Coinbase recently formed a quantum advisory board that includes Drake, Dan Boneh, and Scott Aaronson. Vitalik Buterin has also stressed that quantum resistance is essential to Ethereum’s long-term security, warning there is a meaningful chance that powerful quantum computers could emerge before 2030.