Ethereum and quantum computing: Foundation creates its own security team

• Ethereum Foundation declares post-quantum security a top strategic priority
• A dedicated PQ team led by Thomas Coratger is supposed to make the network quantum secure
• LeanVM forms the cryptographic cornerstone of Ethereum’s entire post-quantum strategy

Ethereum Foundation establishes its own post-quantum team

The threat that powerful quantum computers could pose to the cryptography of today’s blockchains is increasingly becoming the focus of the industry. While the Bitcoin community has been discussing the topic for some time, the Ethereum Foundation (EF) took a decisive step in early 2026: On January 23, 2026, EF researcher Justin Drake announced in a post on Platform X that the organization had launched its own post-quantum team (PQ team). It is led by cryptography engineer Thomas Coratger, supported by leanVM cryptographer Emile. As Drake wrote in his post, EF management has officially made post-quantum security a top strategic priority, after years of quiet research and development work that began back in 2019.

With this step, the Ethereum Foundation is making it clear that it is no longer just about basic academic research, but about active engineering work. From February 2026, bi-weekly developer calls will start under the leadership of EF researcher Antonio Sanso as part of the All Core Developers process, which specifically deal with post-quantum secure transactions. In addition, several independent test networks are already running in which post-quantum secure consensus mechanisms are being tested. The foundation has also launched the so-called “Poseidon Prize”, with a prize of one million US dollars, to strengthen the cryptographic Poseidon hash function used in Ethereum’s zero-knowledge proof systems. There is also another $1 million “Proximity Prize” for broader post-quantum cryptography research.

LeanVM as the heart of the strategy

The technical core of the Ethereum Foundation’s post-quantum strategy is a system called leanVM. This is a highly specialized software environment designed to bundle many post-quantum secure validations into a single compact proof that can be added to the blockchain without overloading it. Drake called leanVM the “cryptographic cornerstone” of the Ethereum Foundation’s overall post-quantum strategy.

As Thomas Coratger explained in a CoinDesk post from February 1, 2026, the team’s current focus is on Ethereum’s consensus layer, the part of the network that allows thousands of validators to agree on valid transactions and new blocks. The cryptography used there today works perfectly, but could one day be broken by powerful quantum computers. Particularly challenging is replacing the existing signature system, which efficiently bundles thousands of validator consents. Coratger emphasized that post-quantum secure alternatives do not have the same properties and adapting them to Ethereum scaling is a major challenge. At the same time, Coratger made it clear that Ethereum is not in immediate danger. However, the early start of the work is necessary because decentralized networks require significantly more time for comprehensive changes than centralized systems.

The industry reacts: Coinbase and Optimism are also trading

The Ethereum Foundation is not alone in its push. On January 21, 2026, crypto exchange Coinbase announced the formation of its own independent advisory board for quantum computing and blockchain. As stated in Coinbase’s official blog post, the “Coinbase Independent Advisory Board on Quantum Computing and Blockchain” brings together world-leading experts in the fields of quantum computing, cryptography and blockchain security, including Ethereum researcher Justin Drake himself, as well as cryptography luminaries such as Professor Scott Aaronson and Professor Dan Boneh, among others. The committee is intended to publish risk analyses, issue recommendations for developers and users and provide quick, independent assessments of significant breakthroughs in quantum research.

Something is also happening at the Layer 2 network level: Optimism, one of the largest Layer 2 networks in the Ethereum ecosystem, has published a formal 10-year roadmap to convert its entire superchain stack, from wallets to sequencers, to post-quantum secure cryptography. These coordinated initiatives demonstrate that post-quantum security is no longer a fringe issue in the blockchain industry, but is actively shaping development roadmaps, governance discussions, and collaboration across the ecosystem. The Ethereum Foundation is also planning further community work: Among other things, a “Post-Quantum Day” is planned for March 29, 2026 in Cannes and a three-day event in October to bring experts and stakeholders together.

D. Maier / editorial team finanzen.net

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