The Ethereum Foundation has created a special Post-Quantum (PQ) team to prepare the Ethereum network for future threats from quantum computers. Senior researcher Justin Drake described this move as a major strategic priority in a post shared on X (Twitter) on Friday.
The new team will be led by Thomas Coratger, a cryptographic engineer at the foundation. He will be supported by Emile, a cryptographer closely involved with the foundation’s leanVM project. According to Drake, leanVM is a key part of Ethereum’s post-quantum plan. It is a lightweight virtual machine designed for zero-knowledge proofs and optimized for quantum-resistant, hash-based signatures.
Drake explained that the Ethereum Foundation has been working quietly on post-quantum research for years. Now, in 2026, the foundation believes timelines are speeding up and it is time to fully commit to quantum-safe security. He emphasized that post-quantum protection is no longer optional for Ethereum.
Strong Financial Support for Post-Quantum Research
To support this effort, the Ethereum Foundation announced a $1 million Poseidon Prize. This prize focuses on strengthening a hash function that plays an important role in Ethereum’s zero-knowledge proof systems. This funding comes in addition to the $1 million Proximity Prize, which was announced last year to encourage broader research in post-quantum cryptography.
Progress on the Technical Side
On the engineering front, post-quantum consensus development networks are already active. Ethereum clients Lighthouse and Grandine have already launched post-quantum development networks, and Prysm is expected to join soon.
The foundation will also start biweekly developer meetings focused on post-quantum transactions beginning next month. These sessions will be led by Ethereum researcher Antonio Sanso.
In addition, the Ethereum community will host:
A three-day post-quantum workshop in October
A special session before EthCC in March
Industry-Wide Focus on Quantum Risks
This announcement comes as concern about quantum computing grows across the crypto industry. Earlier this week, Coinbass formed an independent advisory board to study quantum risks to blockchain systems. Justin Drake is a member of this board, alongside well-known experts such as Stanford cryptographer Dan Boneh and University of Texas professor Scott Aaronson.
Quantum Resistance Seen as Essential for Ethereum
The move also connects to Vitalik Buterin’s “walkaway test”, published on January 12. This test examines whether Ethereum could remain secure even if its core developers stepped away. Buterin clearly stated that quantum resistance is non-negotiable for Ethereum’s future.
Buterin has previously estimated there is a 20% chance that quantum computers capable of breaking today’s cryptography could appear before 2030.
Ethereum vs. Bitcoin on Quantum Upgrades
Concerns about quantum computing are already influencing investment decisions. Last week, Jefferies strategist Christopher Wood removed a 10% Bitcoin allocation from his model portfolio, calling quantum computing an “existential risk.”
Unlike Bitcoin, which would likely need a highly controversial hard fork to adopt quantum-resistant upgrades, Ethereum is better positioned. Thanks to its account abstraction roadmap, Ethereum has a clearer and smoother path to transition toward post-quantum security.
