Ethereum Foundation Launches Dedicated Team to Tackle Quantum Threats

The Ethereum Foundation has made post-quantum security a top priority, signaling a move from research into real-world implementation.

The EF  announced a new Post Quantum team with $2 million in funding, driven by concerns that advances in quantum computing could break today’s blockchain cryptography sooner than expected. Ethereum researcher Justin Drake confirmed the shift, noting that work on quantum resistance began as early as 2019 but has now entered an active build and testing phase.

The new team will be led by Ethereum Foundation engineer Thomas Coratger, working with Emile from the leanVM team. Their role includes research, protocol design, and testing infrastructure to prepare Ethereum for future quantum threats. Developer coordination is also increasing, with bi-weekly “All Core Devs – Post Quantum” calls hosted by Antonio Sanso to discuss progress and user-facing security issues.

To support stronger cryptography, the foundation announced two $1 million research prizes. The new Poseidon Prize will focus on improving the security of the Poseidon hash function, while the existing Proximity Prize will continue funding research into hash-based cryptography, which is widely seen as one of the safest approaches against quantum attacks.

Ethereum Gears Up for Quantum Threats

Post-quantum work is already underway across the Ethereum ecosystem. Teams including Zeam, Ream Labs, PierTwo, Gean client, and Ethlambda are working with major Ethereum consensus clients such as Lighthouse, Grandine, and Prysm. These groups hold weekly meetings to ensure their systems remain compatible.

The foundation is also planning in-person collaboration, including a three-day expert workshop in October and a post-quantum developer day on March 29 in Cannes before EthCC. Opinions in the crypto industry differ on the urgency of the quantum threat. Some believe it is a near-term risk, while others think it is still decades away.

However, Ethereum leaders, including Vitalik Buterin, have warned that quantum breakthroughs could arrive before 2030. To help the network prepare, the Ethereum Foundation plans to release a clear transition guide at pq.ethereum.org that outlines how Ethereum can become quantum-resistant without downtime or loss of funds.

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