XRP Ledger Plans Quantum-Resistant Security Upgrade Ahead of 2028 Target.
The $XRP Ledger Foundation has outlined a proposed upgrade to protect accounts against future quantum-computing threats, with ML-DSA-44, a post-quantum signature standard approved by NIST, at the center of the design. Ripple is targeting a broader transition by 2028, although the upgrade is not yet approved or active on the mainnet.
The concern is that sufficiently powerful quantum computers could eventually break the elliptic curve cryptography used by existing XRPL accounts, potentially exposing private keys. Accounts that have previously signed transactions have already revealed their public keys on-chain, making them a particular focus of long-term security planning.
Under the proposed design, account owners would be able to add quantum-resistant signing keys and move away from their existing cryptographic keys. The framework is also designed to keep base transaction fees unchanged. However, migration will not happen automatically, and holders of inactive or lost wallets present a more difficult challenge.
The Foundation has scheduled a migration study for the first half of 2027, with development, review and auditing expected in late 2027 or 2028. How the network will handle wallets that never migrate remains an important unanswered question. The proposal does not yet establish a forced recovery or freezing mechanism for dormant accounts.
#xrp
The $XRP Ledger Foundation has outlined a proposed upgrade to protect accounts against future quantum-computing threats, with ML-DSA-44, a post-quantum signature standard approved by NIST, at the center of the design. Ripple is targeting a broader transition by 2028, although the upgrade is not yet approved or active on the mainnet.
The concern is that sufficiently powerful quantum computers could eventually break the elliptic curve cryptography used by existing XRPL accounts, potentially exposing private keys. Accounts that have previously signed transactions have already revealed their public keys on-chain, making them a particular focus of long-term security planning.
Under the proposed design, account owners would be able to add quantum-resistant signing keys and move away from their existing cryptographic keys. The framework is also designed to keep base transaction fees unchanged. However, migration will not happen automatically, and holders of inactive or lost wallets present a more difficult challenge.
The Foundation has scheduled a migration study for the first half of 2027, with development, review and auditing expected in late 2027 or 2028. How the network will handle wallets that never migrate remains an important unanswered question. The proposal does not yet establish a forced recovery or freezing mechanism for dormant accounts.
#xrp
