Cryptoupdated 46m ago2 min read
Starknet Voters Back Quantum-Resistant Independent Layer 1 Research, StarkWare Abstains
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Over 93.5% supported researching an independent, post-quantum Layer 1 for Starknet. StarkWare plans a draft whitepaper in November; changes require new votes.
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Vote backs post-quantum L1
Starknet’s community backed research into an independent, quantum-resistant layer-1 blockchain, with the governance vote running for seven days and closing on Thursday. StarkWare said the non-binding poll drew about 3,200 votes and recorded 93.52% of voting power in favor of the transition, while StarkWare abstained from voting to leave the decision to the community.
“The governance vote that ran for seven days closed on Thursday.”
StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson said, "We’re beginning work on a whitepaper even before we start the weekend, and hope to release a draft for public scrutiny in November," as StarkWare and the Starknet Foundation proceed with research into an independent L1. The proposal leaves Starknet operating as an Ethereum layer-2 network for now, and it says the actual shift would require a separate, binding governance vote.
Ethereum exit, but not yet
Starknet’s governance proposal states that STRK will remain the network’s native token, with no new token planned, while existing bridges between Starknet and Ethereum will remain open.
StarkWare and the Starknet Foundation established a working group to examine the proposed transition and develop more detailed technical proposals, with a draft whitepaper planned for November before any binding decision.
StarkWare first raised the potential transition on Oct. 8, citing concerns about the network’s dependence on Ethereum for security.
The proposal also says Starknet’s bridge and data availability infrastructure remain dependent on Ethereum’s upgrade timeline, even as Starknet uses hash-based STARK proofs and supports programmable accounts capable of adopting post-quantum signatures.
Quantum timeline and stakes
StarkWare set a 2027 target for making Starknet quantum-resistant, and Ben-Sasson argued that "Ethereum’s target of 2029 to become quantum-safe is too late, and deadlines slip," as Starknet pursues post-quantum work. StarkWare’s roadmap divides quantum resistance into three phases covering cryptographic upgrades, smart-contract migration and Ethereum-dependent infrastructure, and it says its Quantum Hub has already tested technology designed to withstand future quantum attacks by processing a transaction on Starknet’s live network.
The sources say the experimental technology has not yet undergone a security audit, and StarkWare’s post-quantum account technology is described as having been demonstrated on Starknet’s live network. The proposal’s stakes center on whether Starknet can accelerate security upgrades without following Ethereum’s timetable for certain components, while the sources also note that independence would introduce requirements for validators, data availability, and transaction protection without relying on Ethereum’s existing infrastructure.