Starknet voters endorse study of standalone quantum-resistant network
Starknet’s community voted in favor of a nonbinding proposal to study whether the network should become an independent, quantum-resistant layer-1 blockchain, with 93.52% of voting power in support. StarkWare and the Starknet Foundation will examine technical requirements and prepare proposals, with a draft whitepaper expected in November, though any transition would require a separate binding vote. Starknet will keep operating as an Ethereum layer-2 for now, and the plan would retain STRK as the native token and keep existing bridges open.
The seven-day poll drew roughly 3,200 participants, described by StarkWare as the largest turnout in Starknet governance so far; StarkWare itself did not vote. The nonbinding result lets StarkWare and the Starknet Foundation form a working group, assess technical needs, and prepare proposals, with a draft whitepaper slated for November. Any actual move would need a later binding vote.
Starknet currently relies on Ethereum for security and infrastructure, including bridge and data-availability functions tied to Ethereum’s upgrade timetable. Its STARK proofs are hash-based, and its accounts can support post-quantum signatures. A June roadmap outlined cryptographic upgrades, contract migration, and infrastructure changes; a Quantum Hub test processed a live-network transaction, though the technology is experimental and unaudited.
If research advances, Starknet users, developers, and STRK holders could face uncertainty over bridge security, wallet compatibility, and upgrade timing, while Ethereum’s broader community may watch whether a major layer-2 pursues independence. Quantum-resistance work may benefit digital-asset users if it matures, but experimental, unaudited technology could create new risks. The nonbinding vote itself may encourage broader debate about how crypto networks balance long-term security with continuity and community control.