Ethereum Foundation Sets 2029 Target for L1 Quantum Upgrade

Foundation launches public post-quantum hub

The Ethereum Foundation launched pq.ethereum.org on 24 March 2026. The platform brings together research documents, Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs), a technical roadmap, and a structured FAQ. An EIP is a formal proposal to change the Ethereum protocol. The hub makes years of previously scattered cryptographic research available in one public location.

"Based on our team's current assessment, layer 1 protocol upgrades could be completed by 2029, with full execution-layer migration taking additional years beyond that.", 24 March 2026. — Ethereum Foundation researchers (collective attribution), Post-Quantum Research Team, Ethereum Foundation

Layer 1 upgrade target set for 2029

Layer 1 (L1) refers to the base Ethereum blockchain itself. The Foundation projects core L1 protocol changes could finish by 2029. Full migration at the execution layer — the part that processes transactions — will extend beyond that date. The roadmap outlines multiple network upgrades on a roughly six-month release cycle over the next several years.

Ten-plus client teams run weekly devnets

More than 10 Ethereum client teams currently build and test post-quantum development networks, known as devnets, through the PQ Interop program. The teams run interoperability sessions every week to confirm that different software clients remain compatible with each other. This work started in 2018 with early research into signature aggregation using STARK-based cryptography. STARK stands for Scalable Transparent Argument of Knowledge, a type of mathematical proof system.

"The core architectural shift replaces BLS signatures with hash-based signatures, simultaneously achieving quantum resistance and SNARK-friendliness.", 20 February 2026. — Thomas Coratger, Protocol Researcher, Lean Consensus / Ethereum protocol contributor

BLS signatures to give way to hash-based schemes

At the consensus layer, BLS (Boneh–Lynn–Shacham) signatures currently bundle validator votes into a single compact proof. The transition plan replaces BLS with hash-based alternatives such as XMSS (eXtended Merkle Signature Scheme), which do not rely on mathematical problems that quantum computers can solve. The leading protocol-level direction combines XMSS-style quantum resistance with STARK-based aggregation under a scheme called leanSig. At the execution layer, account abstraction lets users gradually switch to quantum-safe authentication methods without requiring a full system replacement.