SOL founder warns ETH L2s on quantum

TLDR

Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko has warned that many Ethereum Layer 2 networks are not yet protected against future quantum attacks.

1. Yakovenko said Ethereum L2s are not quantum safe while highlighting Solanas work on post-quantum Falcon-512 signatures for new accounts.
2. His concern is that Ethereum L2s and their zk-rollups still rely on elliptic-curve cryptography that powerful future quantum or AI systems could break.
3. The risk is long term, but it is pushing a new race for quantum-resistant signatures, wallet migration plans, and standards across Solana, Ethereum, and other chains.

Deep Dive

1. What Yakovenko Actually Said

In a recent discussion, Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko stated that Ethereum L2s are not quantum safe, pointing specifically at rollups built on Ethereums current cryptography stack. This comment was reported in detail by Tokenpost, which notes that it followed a Solana developer update on integrating Falcon-512, a post-quantum signature scheme, into Solanas account system for future protection against quantum attacks.

The same report explains that Solana is starting with Falcon-based verification for new accounts, while working on migration paths for existing wallets that still use traditional elliptic-curve signatures. That positions Solana as trying to frame itself as future proof compared with Ethereums L2 ecosystem.

A separate analysis highlights that Yakovenko has also warned that artificial intelligence might break some post-quantum schemes sooner than expected, and has pushed for using multiple independent signature types in multisig setups as a defense. In that piece he called AI the biggest near term threat to crypto cryptography, arguing for redundancy across schemes rather than betting on a single design.

2. Why ETH L2s Are Considered Vulnerable

Ethereum L2s inherit Ethereums base-layer cryptography. Most wallets and rollups use ECDSA signatures over the secp256k1 curve, and once a transaction is broadcast the public key becomes visible on-chain. In theory, a sufficiently powerful quantum computer running Shors algorithm could recover private keys from those public keys, allowing an attacker to move funds.

Tokenposts coverage underlines a second angle for rollups: many zk-rollup systems use elliptic-curve pairings and proof systems like Groth16 or Plonk, which are also built on primitives that are not considered quantum resistant. If those curves were broken, both L2 state proofs and user funds could be at risk.

At the same time, experts stress this is not an immediate crisis. Current quantum machines are far from the scale needed to break modern curves, but Yakovenko and others highlight a harvest now, exploit later scenario, where adversaries record data and wait for stronger quantum or AI-assisted attacks in the future.

3. How The Ecosystem Is Responding

Yakovenkos warning fits into a broader shift where multiple chains are investing in quantum readiness. The Solana side is moving toward Falcon-based signatures and advocating multisig with diverse schemes. Meanwhile, Ethereums own grant making has funded research into quantum-resistant systems and alternative signature schemes as part of its long term roadmap.

Other projects like Algorand and Ripple have publicly discussed post-quantum signatures or timelines for making their assets quantum proof, and even Tron community messaging now emphasizes quantum-resistant plans. The competitive angle is clear: chains want to be seen as secure not only today, but a decade from now.

Conclusion

Yakovenkos ETH L2s are not quantum safe line is less about an immediate exploit and more about framing who is leading on next generation cryptography. Ethereum L2s still rely on elliptic-curve systems that quantum and AI advances could eventually threaten, while Solana and others are starting to integrate post-quantum signatures and redundancy. The key signal over the coming years will be which ecosystems quietly ship robust migration tools and standards for post-quantum security, rather than only talking about it.