🚨 The Ethereum Foundation (EF) has officially launched a dedicated Post-Quantum (PQ) Security Team, elevating quantum resistance to a top strategic priority for the network. $ETH

As of January 20, 2026, the EF is mobilizing resources to transition Ethereum’s cryptographic foundation before the advent of cryptographically relevant quantum computers (CRQCs). The initiative aims to ensure a seamless migration to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) with zero fund loss and zero downtime for users.

The Post-Quantum Roadmap

- Specialized Team & Funding: The new team is backed by significant EF funding to attract top-tier researchers in lattice-based and hash-based cryptography.

- Multi-Client Devnets: The EF is launching experimental "PQ devnets" involving multiple execution and consensus clients. These testnets will be used to evaluate the performance of PQ-safe digital signatures and key encapsulation mechanisms (KEMs).

- Protocol Simplification: This initiative aligns with Vitalik Buterin’s recent emphasis on "protocol simplicity" and "garbage collection." By removing legacy cryptographic bloat, the network can more

efficiently integrate the larger proof sizes required by PQ algorithms.

While practical quantum attacks on 256-bit elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) are likely years away, the "harvest now, decrypt later" threat—and the long lead time required for a global network upgrade—has accelerated the EF's timeline.

This move positions Ethereum as a first-mover in the "Institutional Era," where long-term security guarantees are essential for hosting the world's financial infrastructure.