Ethereum Users Can Add Quantum-Resistant Protection for $0.07 Without Fork

Ethereum researchers have proposed a quantum-resistant signature scheme called SPHINCS- that can be deployed on Ethereum without requiring a hard fork.

The proposal, dubbed SPHINCS-, was unveiled by Ethereum researcher Nicolas Consigny and collaborators. It leverages Ethereum's native KECCAK256 hash function to verify signatures directly within smart contracts.

This makes post-quantum protection economically viable for wallet providers, institutions, and decentralized applications, with verification costs as low as $0.07 per transaction.

The research highlights growing efforts within the Ethereum ecosystem to prepare for a future where quantum computers could compromise existing cryptographic standards.