Starknet Votes to Explore Post-Quantum L1 Independence from Ethereum

Starknet's community has overwhelmingly backed research into transitioning from an Ethereum layer-2 network to an independent, post-quantum layer-1 blockchain. A seven-day governance vote that closed on Thursday drew approximately 3,200 participants, with 93.52% of voting power supporting the move. According to StarkWare, this was the highest voter turnout in Starknet's governance history. StarkWare, the network's core developer, abstained from the vote to leave the decision entirely to the community. The poll is non-binding, meaning any actual transition would require a separate, binding governance vote. For now, Starknet will continue operating as an Ethereum layer-2.

StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson told Cointelegraph that work on a whitepaper is already underway, with a draft expected for public review in November. "Ethereum's target of 2029 to become quantum-safe is too late, and deadlines slip," Ben-Sasson said, noting StarkWare's internal target of 2027 for achieving quantum resistance. StarkWare and the Starknet Foundation have formed a working group to evaluate the proposed shift and develop detailed technical proposals. The governance proposal confirmed that STRK will remain the network's native token with no new token planned, and existing bridges between Starknet and Ethereum will stay operational during any transition.

StarkWare first flagged the potential pivot on Oct. 8, citing concerns about Starknet's dependence on Ethereum for security and data availability. While Starknet already uses hash-based STARK proofs and supports programmable accounts capable of adopting post-quantum signatures, its bridge and data availability infrastructure remain tied to Ethereum's upgrade roadmap. In June, StarkWare published a three-phase quantum-resistance strategy covering cryptographic upgrades, smart-contract migration, and Ethereum-dependent infrastructure. The company's Quantum Hub has already tested technology designed to withstand future quantum attacks, processing a live transaction on Starknet's mainnet, though the technology remains unaudited and experimental.