ETH foundation launches post-quantum security team

TLDR

The Ethereum Foundation has launched a dedicated Post-Quantum (PQ) security team to prepare Ethereum for future quantum-computer threats to its cryptography.

1. Ethereum has formed a new PQ team, led by cryptographic engineer Thomas Coratger, and committed about 2 million dollars in funding and prizes for quantum-resistant research.
2. The team will focus on wallet safety, new transaction and signature schemes, and multi-client test networks, aiming to upgrade Ethereums core cryptography without breaking existing users.
3. Over the next few years, key signals will be PQ devnets, developer calls, and eventual wallet guidance, which could help position Ethereum as a quantum-safe leader among major blockchains.

Deep Dive

1. What Ethereum Just Announced

Multiple reports confirm the Ethereum Foundation has made post-quantum security a top strategic priority, creating an internal Post Quantum (PQ) team led by cryptographic engineer Thomas Coratger, with support from leanVM cryptographer Emile and researcher Justin Drake.[\[1\]](https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2026/01/24/ethereum-foundation-makes-post-quantum-security-a-top-priority-as-new-team-forms)

The Foundation is backing this with around 2 million dollars: a 1 million dollar Poseidon Prize to harden the Poseidon hash function and another 1 million dollars for broader PQ cryptography initiatives.[\[2\]](https://cryptonews.com/news/ethereum-launches-2m-quantum-defense-team-as-threat-timeline-accelerates/)

Planned work includes biweekly All Core Devs PQ breakout calls, live post-quantum devnets involving multiple consensus clients, and a dedicated roadmap and education effort, including in-person post-quantum days at major Ethereum events.[\[2\]](https://cryptonews.com/news/ethereum-launches-2m-quantum-defense-team-as-threat-timeline-accelerates/)

2. Why Quantum Security Matters For ETH

Ethereum, like Bitcoin, currently relies on elliptic-curve cryptography (ECDSA) for wallets and signatures, which mainstream research expects powerful quantum computers could eventually break.[\[3\]](https://www.okx.com/en-us/learn/layer-ethereum-quantum-preparation) A successful quantum attack could let an attacker forge signatures and drain older, exposed addresses.

Quantum timelines are uncertain. One cited forecast puts the median date for quantum machines that can break modern cryptography around 2040, with a non-trivial chance earlier.[\[2\]](https://cryptonews.com/news/ethereum-launches-2m-quantum-defense-team-as-threat-timeline-accelerates/) Because upgrading millions of wallets and contracts is slow and socially complex, the Foundation is choosing to act well before the threat is immediate.

3. What To Watch Next

In the near term, most changes will be developer-facing: PQ-focused All Core Devs calls, prototype PQ transaction formats, and test networks that trial new signature schemes and hash functions.[\[1\]](https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2026/01/24/ethereum-foundation-makes-post-quantum-security-a-top-priority-as-new-team-forms)

Later, expect clearer user guidance, such as recommended wallet upgrades and best practices to move from classical to quantum-resistant keys once standards stabilize. The Foundation has signaled a goal of zero fund loss or network downtime during this transition.[\[4\]](https://decrypt.co/355798/ethereum-foundation-forms-post-quantum-team-security-concerns-mount)

Some analysts argue that chains which move faster on PQ hardening could become post-quantum safe havens for value, giving Ethereum a potential narrative and security edge over networks that delay this work.[\[2\]](https://cryptonews.com/news/ethereum-launches-2m-quantum-defense-team-as-threat-timeline-accelerates/)

Conclusion

Ethereums new post-quantum security team turns years of quiet research into an explicit engineering program to future-proof ETHs cryptography. The risk is long-term, but the migration will take years, so starting now is strategically important. For users, the practical step is to monitor official Ethereum guidance over time, as PQ-ready wallets and account formats begin to appear.