Vitalik Buterin has urged the Ethereum Foundation to implement cryptography resistant to quantum computing. To date, networks like Solana are already evaluating security protocols in response to the advancement of this technology.
The long-term security of decentralized networks has moved from a theoretical debate to an urgent technical priority on the agenda of industry leaders. Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, recently urged the immediate implementation of quantum-resistant cryptography on the network, dismissing the idea of waiting until a threat is imminent before taking action.
His stance highlights the need for the blockchain to operate under a model he calls proof-of-withdrawal, which would allow the system to function securely for decades without relying on constant intervention from developers.
This call to action marks a significant shift in Buterin's perspective, who in 2019 had downplayed the risks associated with announcements about quantum supremacy. Currently, the Ethereum leader maintains that the network's fundamental value should not be based on perpetual protocol modifications, but rather on structural stability that guarantees trust even if development activity were to cease entirely. For Buterin, postponing these safeguards for marginal efficiency improvements is a risk the protocol cannot afford to take.
Buy ETH and bet on its future securityThe race to protect the Ethereum blockchain from the quantum age
La restlessness Vitalik Buterin's argument against quantum computing revolves around a threat shared by today's leading blockchains. Both Bitcoin and Ethereum rely on elliptic curve cryptography, a system that could be vulnerable to the power of this innovation. Experts warn that future quantum processors, through the Shor's algorithmThey could derive private keys from public addresses, weakening the fundamental defenses that currently support the security of decentralized networks.
Although quantum technology still faces physical limitations and stability issues, the speed at which its computing power is evolving and recent progress in error correction have begun to narrow the gap between theory and tangible threat. Estimates of when a real risk might materialize are getting shorter every year, putting pressure on the crypto ecosystem to anticipate protection strategies.
Charles Hoskinson, co-founder of Ethereum and leader of Cardano, has emphasized that the transition to quantum-resistant cryptography comes at a substantial cost. Post-quantum protection mechanisms typically operate at speeds up to ten times slower and require significantly more computational resources, disrupting the balance between security and operational efficiency within the ecosystem. However, Buterin argues that Ethereum should unequivocally choose the latter option.
In his view, the goal should be to ensure the network maintains its integrity for at least a century, relying on an approach that considers quantum resilience not as a distant ideal, but as an immediate necessity. In this vision, protecting user assets is more valuable than any temporary gains in speed or scalability.
Buy Ethereum and Bitcoin on Bit2MeSolana and Bitcoin facing the quantum challenge: resilience and evolution
The crypto ecosystem has begun to respond quickly to warnings about the potential risks of quantum computing. One of the most significant steps was taken The Solana Foundation together with Project Eleven, which on December 17th launched a testing program with firms resistant to quantum technology.
Prior to implementation, both organizations conducted a thorough audit to identify weaknesses in the core network architecture and the security of the validators. This was all done with the goal of establishing a robust system capable of remaining relevant even in the face of the most disruptive technological advancements.
Meanwhile, the narrative surrounding Bitcoin is taking a different, though no less determined, turn. Michael Saylor, CEO of Strategy, has downplayed the idea that quantum computing could jeopardize the market's most important digital asset. Rather, in his view, this challenge will become an evolutionary opportunity that will drive structural improvements to the protocol. Saylor argues that Bitcoin is dynamic software, capable of adapting by incorporating more secure mechanisms, such as digital signatures based on hash functions or solutions inspired by the BIP-360 proposal.
According to his perspective, the arrival of the quantum era could trigger a massive migration of funds to new addresses with advanced encryption systems. He believes this process, while complex, would also have an interesting effect on the total coin supply. Assets remaining in old or inaccessible addresses would be irreversibly frozen, potentially reducing the circulating supply and strengthening the intrinsic value of the network and its currency, once it has passed the most demanding test in its history.
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