The Solana Foundation has taken a concrete step toward quantum-resistant blockchain security, deploying post-quantum digital signatures on a Solana testnet.
The move comes amid growing concerns that quantum computing threats may arrive sooner than previously expected.
Solana Begins Quantum-Resistant Upgrade with Post-Quantum Testnet Deployment
The Solana blockchain is the latest addition to the list of networks staying wary of the quantum computing threat. After Ethereum and Cardano, Solana, too, is establishing safe measures, deploying post-quantum signatures on testnet.
“Quantum computers aren’t here yet, but the Solana Foundation is preparing for the possibility. To that end, we’ve consulted with Project Eleven to assess our quantum readiness. We’re pleased to announce a first step, the deployment of post-quantum signatures on a Solana testnet,” wrote the Solana Foundation in a post.
The move follows a comprehensive quantum risk assessment conducted by Project Eleven, a firm specializing in post-quantum cryptography and migration strategies for digital assets.
The assessment examined how future quantum advances could impact Solana’s core infrastructure, validator security, user wallets, and long-term cryptographic assumptions.
As part of the engagement, Project Eleven also deployed a functioning post-quantum signature system on a Solana testnet. It demonstrates that end-to-end quantum-resistant transactions are already practical and scalable using current technology.
The results challenge the long-held assumption that quantum-safe blockchain systems remain a distant theoretical concern.
“Our responsibility is to ensure Solana remains secure not just today, but decades into the future,” read an excerpt in the official blog, citing Matt Sorg, VP of Technology at the Solana Foundation.
Sorg noted that the Solana ecosystem’s culture of shipping will continue with the release of a second client and state-of-the-art consensus mechanism this year.
Efforts like Project Eleven’s reflect early, concrete steps to strengthen the network and stay at the forefront, ensuring Solana’s resiliency long-term.
Project Eleven CEO Alex Pruden framed Solana’s decision as an example of proactive risk management rather than reactive security planning.
“Solana didn’t wait for quantum computers to become a headline problem,” Pruden said. “They invested early, asked the hard questions, and took actionable steps today. The results show that post-quantum security on Solana is viable with today’s technology.”
How Close Is the Quantum Threat? Crypto Leaders Disagree as Timelines Tighten
The announcement comes amid growing debate over how close quantum computing is to threatening classical cryptographic systems used by blockchains such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Recent research suggests that the timeline may be tightening, with estimates placing meaningful quantum risk within the next several years, rather than decades.
Industry views remain divided. Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has previously argued that quantum risk is overhyped. The crypto executive suggests that meaningful threats will only emerge once military-grade benchmarks are reached, potentially in the 2030s.
He has also warned that quantum-resistant cryptography could significantly increase computational costs and reduce performance.
Other networks are taking a more urgent stance. Ethereum has publicly prioritized quantum security as part of its long-term roadmap. Co-founder Vitalik Buterin warns that both Ethereum and Bitcoin could face cryptographic threats before the end of the decade if preparations are delayed.
Beyond Solana, the collaboration highlights a broader industry shift toward quantum-safe infrastructure. Experts increasingly warn that blockchains relying solely on classical signature schemes could eventually face risks, including:
- Stolen funds
- Spoofed validator identities
- Deeper system-level cryptographic failures
Project Eleven stated that it will continue working with Solana and other ecosystem stakeholders. This stance comes as networks evaluate:
- Migration paths
- Emerging standards, and
- The adoption of post-quantum primitives.
Solana’s testnet deployment suggests that technical barriers to quantum resistance are already falling. This is despite large-scale quantum computers capable of breaking blockchain cryptography not yet being in existence.
Whether quantum threats emerge in two years or ten, the race to future-proof blockchain security is clearly underway, and Solana has positioned itself among the earliest movers.
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