Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has proposed a roadmap to enhance the network’s resistance to potential quantum computing threats. He outlined vulnerabilities in key areas like consensus-layer signatures and externally owned accounts, suggesting specific technical changes. The plan includes adopting quantum-resistant cryptographic schemes and exploring aggregated verification methods to bolster long-term security.
Ethereum’s development roadmap now prioritizes quantum resistance, according to co-founder Vitalik Buterin. He identified several network components vulnerable to advances in quantum computing. These include consensus-layer BLS signatures and externally owned account signatures based on ECDSA.
Buterin outlined technical approaches to address these risks in a social media post. For the consensus layer, he proposed replacing BLS signatures with hash-based schemes like Winternitz variants. STARK-based aggregation would enable quick verification of these signatures.
The roadmap also involves changes to data availability systems and application-layer zero-knowledge proofs. Buterin noted these adjustments would require additional technical work to handle larger verification processes. A long-term hashing method must also be selected to ensure reliable future security.
For externally owned accounts, Buterin suggested introducing native account abstraction through EIP-8141. This would allow accounts to support multiple signature methods, including quantum-resistant alternatives. He explained that current quantum-resistant signature verification is far more resource-intensive than ECDSA.
The post also discussed proof systems, noting quantum-resistant STARK proofs have higher costs than current ZK-SNARKs. Buterin’s solution under EIP-8141 involves bundling multiple transaction checks for single-proof verification. This method aims to reduce on-chain computation and improve scalability for a quantum-secure future.
