Why Ethereum’s New Quantum Team is Like Hiring a Bouncer for Your Bitcoin Party

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  • The Ethereum Foundation has formed a special Post-Quantum (PQ) team led by Thomas Coratger. Yep, you read that right-PQ is the new VIP section.
  • The foundation is doing this to harden the network against future quantum threats. Because nothing says “I love you” like preparing for an apocalypse!
  • Developers are launching biweekly sessions and testnets to test quantum-resistant transactions. Because who doesn’t love a good science project?

The Ethereum Foundation is officially moving its research into preparing for quantum threat security for all users. It’s like getting your house in order before the in-laws come over-except the in-laws are quantum computers.

Researchers believe that the timeline for quantum threats to blockchains is speeding up. So, it’s time to stop playing defense and start throwing some serious punches against this impending doom!

A Dedicated Team for Post-Quantum Security

The Ethereum Foundation has appointed Thomas Coratger to lead its new Post-Quantum team, and this group will focus on protecting the network from future threats in a quantum sense. Think of him as the superhero we didn’t know we needed!

For context, quantum computers are machines that could “theoretically” crack the encryption that currently keeps many blockchains safe. It’s like giving a toddler a sledgehammer and saying, “Be careful!”

Emile, another cryptographer involved with leanVM, is also joining Coratger alongside Justin Drake. Because you can never have too many cryptographers in a room, right?

Drake is one of the most prominent researchers at the foundation, and he recently took to X to describe leanVM as an important building block for this venture. You know, just casually dropping knowledge bombs.

Today marks an inflection in the Ethereum Foundation’s long-term quantum strategy.

We’ve formed a new Post Quantum (PQ) team, led by the brilliant Thomas Coratger. Joining him is Emile, one of the world-class talents behind leanVM. leanVM is the cryptographic…

– Justin Drake (@drakefjustin)

He says that leanVM is similar to a minimalist virtual machine designed for zero-knowledge proofs. Basically, it’s like a magic trick that lets the network do complex math without everyone watching it sweat.

The team believes that waiting for a threat to arrive is too risky. So instead, they’re treating post-quantum security like a hot potato-quickly passing it around before someone gets burned!

New Post-Quantum Security Protocols

Making Ethereum quantum resistant requires a massive coordination effort across many different software teams. Justin Drake confirmed that multi-client consensus test networks are already live, which sounds way cooler than it probably is.

These networks allow developers to experiment with new security rules in a controlled environment. Kind of like a sandbox, but with fewer sandcastles and more cryptography.

Biweekly developer sessions will also begin next month, and Antonio Sanso will lead these meetings to focus on transaction security. The goal? To create protocol-level tools that protect the average user. Because everyone deserves to be safe, even if they don’t know how to pronounce “blockchain.”

They are also looking at account abstraction as a way to let users upgrade their security settings easily. It’s like upgrading from dial-up to fiber-optic internet-what a time to be alive!

Another major area of improvement is in signature aggregation. In all, the network wants to use leanVM to bundle many digital signatures together. This makes the data smaller and harder for a quantum machine to manipulate. The weekly calls will also help different teams stay on the same page during this transition. Think of it as a book club for tech nerds!

How The Foundation Is Funding This

The Ethereum Foundation is both asking for help and paying for it. It’s like the friend who insists on splitting the bill but also offers to Venmo you.

They have committed $2 million in new prizes to solve specific math problems. In particular, the Poseidon Prize offers $1 million to anyone who can help harden the Poseidon hash function. According to experts, this specific function is important for the privacy tools Ethereum uses every day. And hey, who doesn’t want to win a million bucks for solving math?

Aside from the Poseidon hash function, the foundation is offering another $1 million to the Proximity Prize. This initiative is challenging developers to find new ways to apply post-quantum security to the current blockchain. Because who doesn’t love a good challenge?

Industry Leaders Assess the Quantum Threat

Other organizations are also moving fast in this quantum race. Coinbase recently formed an independent advisory board to look at these same risks, and this board features experts from all over the industry. Kind of like the Avengers, but for cryptocurrency!

Quantum is a very real threat for blockchains and it’s coming sooner than most people think.

The EF’s new ‘Post Quantum’ team will ensure that Ethereum is able to defend itself against any and all quantum threats.

Believe in somETHing.

– sassal.eth/acc 🦇🔊 (@sassal0x)

While a functional quantum computer that can break encryption might be years away, Ethereum’s transition could take time. Moving millions of users to new wallet formats is like trying to change a tire on a moving car. Good luck with that!

At the same time, if the industry waits too long, the risk of lost funds increases. So, buckle up, folks; it’s going to be a bumpy ride!

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2026-01-24 16:30