Before quantum computers are even truly deployed, the Ethereum Foundation has already decided to deploy defenses. According to a CoinDesk report , the Ethereum Foundation, which supports the development of Ethereum, recently announced that it has elevated post-quantum security to a "top-level strategic priority" for the network.
Ethereum Foundation researcher Justin Drake stated that the foundation has established a dedicated "Post Quantum" team, led by Thomas Coratger and assisted by Emile, a cryptography talent who previously participated in the development of leanVM. He positions leanVM as a core component of Ethereum's post-quantum security strategy, believing that the relevant timeline is accelerating and the team should move from background research to "practical construction."
Bi-weekly developer meetings and testnet launch
The key to this adjustment is not whether the market has been dominated by quantum panic, but rather that "changing the engine" requires a long lead time. Justin Drake points out that the real challenge is not that a quantum computer will suddenly turn on one day, but how long it will take for the blockchain to complete a secure conversion, update wallet formats, and allow users to migrate smoothly without affecting daily use.
To translate abstract risks into concrete engineering roadmaps, the Ethereum Foundation plans to host a bi-weekly developer conference starting next month, hosted by Antonio Sanso, focusing on "post-quantum transactions." The agenda will focus on user-perceptible defense mechanisms, including the introduction of dedicated cryptographic tools at the protocol layer, protection paths incorporating account abstraction, and how to aggregate transaction signatures through leanVM in the future.
Regarding consensus, Justin Drake revealed that the "post-quantum consensus development network" involving multiple clients has begun operation, with different teams participating in testing and coordinating progress through weekly interoperability meetings. For a public blockchain with a large market capitalization, this is essentially a stress test in preparation for future large-scale upgrades.
Two million dollar prizes
In addition to forming teams, holding meetings, and launching testnets, the Ethereum Foundation is also choosing to directly use funding to engage the cryptography community. Justin Drake stated that the foundation will launch the $1 million "Poseidon Prize" to refine the Poseidon hash function, and will also launch a $1 million post-quantum related project, the "Proximity Prize," to encourage researchers to propose practical improvements to address potential weaknesses.
