The Ethereum Foundation has taken a decisive step toward future-proofing the network, officially forming a dedicated Post-Quantum (PQ) security team as concerns mount over how advances in quantum computing could eventually undermine today’s blockchain cryptography.
From Research to Execution
The announcement was revealed on X by Justin Drake, who described the move as a critical inflection point in Ethereum’s long-term security strategy. According to Drake, Ethereum’s work on post-quantum security began quietly in 2019, but the pace of external developments has now forced a shift from theory to action.
Today marks an inflection in the Ethereum Foundation's long-term quantum strategy.
— Justin Drake (@drakefjustin) January 23, 2026
We've formed a new Post Quantum (PQ) team, led by the brilliant Thomas Coratger (@tcoratger). Joining him is Emile, one of the world-class talents behind leanVM. leanVM is the cryptographic…
Today marks an inflection in the Ethereum Foundation's long-term quantum strategy.
— Justin Drake (@drakefjustin) January 23, 2026
We've formed a new Post Quantum (PQ) team, led by the brilliant Thomas Coratger (@tcoratger). Joining him is Emile, one of the world-class talents behind leanVM. leanVM is the cryptographic…
The message underscores a growing consensus that cryptographic migration cannot wait until quantum computers become practical.
Who’s Leading the Effort
The new Post-Quantum team will be led by Thomas Coratger, alongside the contributors behind LeanVM, a virtual machine framework Drake described as a “cryptographic cornerstone” of Ethereum’s post-quantum roadmap. LeanVM is expected to play a central role in enabling new cryptographic primitives without repeatedly overhauling the protocol.
Ethereum’s urgency mirrors broader industry shifts. Like Bitcoin, Ethereum relies heavily on elliptic-curve cryptography, which researchers believe could eventually be broken by sufficiently powerful, error-corrected quantum machines using Shor’s algorithm.
Vitalik Buterin’s Long-Term Vision
Earlier this month, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin urged developers not to delay preparation. He argued that Ethereum should aim for cryptographic durability measured in decades, not upgrade cycles.
Developer Coordination and User Security
Beginning in February, Ethereum Foundation researcher Antonio Sanso will lead a biweekly All Core Developers breakout call focused specifically on post-quantum transactions. These sessions will concentrate on user-facing security, including account abstraction and longer-term work on transaction signature aggregation, both seen as critical components of a post-quantum Ethereum.
Drake emphasized that these discussions are meant to bridge the gap between cryptographic research and real-world usability, ensuring that upgrades do not compromise performance or accessibility.
Betting on Hash-Based Cryptography
To accelerate progress, Drake also announced the launch of a $1 million Poseidon Prize, an open contest aimed at strengthening the Poseidon hash function, which is widely used in Ethereum applications.
Hash-based systems are considered more resistant to quantum attacks than many public-key schemes, making them attractive candidates for long-term blockchain use.
Part of a Broader Industry Push
Ethereum’s initiative does not exist in isolation. Drake is also a member of a recently formed quantum advisory board at Coinbase, which is studying how future quantum advances could affect blockchain security across the industry. Together, these efforts reflect a growing realization that cryptographic transitions will require years of coordination, not months.
With the Ethereum Foundation now moving decisively from planning to execution, that belief is beginning to take concrete shape.
