Ethereum's Quantum Resistance Efforts Gain Momentum with Strawmap Upgrade Plan

Ethereum's Layer 1 (L1) upgrade plan, known as the Strawmap, is making progress in achieving quantum resistance through post-quantum hash-based signatures.

According to Vitalik Buterin, a key figure behind the development of Ethereum, the Strawmap will help close the gap before potential threats posed by quantum computers arrive. The six-month fork schedule outlined in the plan could see quantum-resistant slots shipped within the first two upgrades.

The Strawmap is an experimental four-year plan that aims to target around seven forks every six months. Notably, two confirmed forks for 2026 are Glamsterdam and Hegotá. Buterin has also proposed cutting block time to 2 seconds and finality from around 16 minutes to 6-16 seconds.

The move towards quantum resistance is not unique to Ethereum, as other blockchain ecosystems such as Bitcoin and Solana are also running post-quantum research. The increasing priority of post-quantum research across the industry highlights the importance of protecting against potential threats from quantum computers.