Ethereum warns of quantum threat: major upgrade on hold
Ethereum researchers want to protect the network from quantum attacks and AI threats as early as 2027. To achieve this, a planned speed improvement may have to be postponed.
Ethereum (ETH) needs to be protected more quickly against the rise of quantum computers and artificial intelligence (AI). That is the view of the Ethlabs research group, which therefore wants to postpone a planned speed improvement. According to the researchers, the security of the network must be given a much higher priority by 2027 at the latest. The proposal has not yet been approved by the Ethereum developers.
On Wednesday, November 11, Ethlabs presented a new plan called pqai27. With this, the Ethereum research group aims to prepare for potential cyberattacks involving quantum computers and advanced AI as early as 2027.
Quantum computers can perform certain calculations much faster than ordinary computers. In the future, sufficiently powerful systems could therefore threaten the encryption used to secure crypto wallets and blockchain networks.
At the same time, AI can make it easier for hackers to find vulnerabilities in software. According to Ethlabs, these risks are increasing faster than previously thought. That is why the group wants Ethereum to adjust its development plan and prioritize security over other improvements.
The new direction has direct consequences for a planned upgrade of Ethereum. Ethlabs is withdrawing its support for the inclusion of Quick Slots in the Hegotá upgrade. That change would initially reduce the time between new blocks from twelve to ten seconds. This would allow transactions to be confirmed more quickly.
The research group now wants to use the available development capacity to provide better protection against future attacks. According to Ethlabs, faster block times are still scheduled for 2028. Other components of Hegotá are also being re-examined.
For example, according to Ethlabs, the planned FOCIL security feature, intended to prevent the censorship of transactions, should only proceed if it does not delay preparations for quantum threats.
Another improvement, Frame Transactions, is being prioritized. This should enable more flexible security for Ethereum accounts and can support the transition to new cryptographic techniques. According to Ethlabs, the previous Glamsterdam upgrade can simply continue.
Ethlabs' proposal is not yet an official decision. In its published roadmap, the Ethereum Foundation has set December 2029 as the target for full protection against quantum attacks.
Researcher Justin Drake previously expressed the hope that a transition could be completed as early as 2028. Ethlabs therefore wants to act even faster, but for that to happen, the key Ethereum developers must first reach an agreement.
Moreover, there is no evidence that quantum computers can currently crack Ethereum's cryptography. The discussion mainly revolves around the question of how early the network should prepare for future risks.