Ethereum Foundation Advances Quantum Defenses With New Team And Prize

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Ethereum Foundation formed a post-quantum team led by cryptographic engineer Thomas Coratger.
A $1 million Poseidon Prize was announced to strengthen a core hash function.
Post-quantum consensus devnets are live across multiple Ethereum clients.
Quantum resistance is central to Ethereum’s long-term security planning.

The Ethereum Foundation has moved to strengthen its defenses against future quantum threats.It announced a new post-quantum security team and a $1 million research prize this week. The move signals a formal shift in priorities as quantum computing research accelerates. Foundation leaders said the effort follows years of internal cryptographic development.

Dedicated team focuses on quantum-resistant security

The new post-quantum team will be led by cryptographic engineer Thomas Coratger.
He will be supported by Emile, a cryptographer linked to the foundation’s leanVM project.Senior researcher Justin Drake said the initiative is now a core priority.In a public post, he wrote that the foundation is “going full PQ” in 2026.

Ethereum Foundation Goes Post-Quantum with $2M Security Push
The Ethereum Foundation announced a dedicated post-quantum security team backed by $2M in funding, including a $1M Poseidon Prize for cryptographic research.
Researcher Justin Drake confirmed the transition from… pic.twitter.com/QLeJQqs6wL
— PIPO.new (@PIPOnew_) January 25, 2026

LeanVM is central to this approach and supports hash-based signature systems.
It is designed to work with zero-knowledge proofs and quantum-resistant primitives.The foundation said the team will coordinate research and engineering work.It will also guide standards for future Ethereum upgrades tied to cryptography.

Research prizes target cryptographic resilience

The Ethereum Foundation announced a $1 million Poseidon Prize alongside the team.
The prize targets improvements to the Poseidon hash function used in zero-knowledge systems.

Poseidon plays a role in Ethereum scaling and privacy tools.Strengthening it is seen as essential for long-term network security.The new prize adds to the $1 million Proximity Prize announced last year.That earlier fund supports broader research into post-quantum cryptography.

The foundation said prizes will attract independent researchers and academic groups.It aims to test designs under open and competitive conditions.Funding will be awarded based on published results and peer review.The foundation did not set a fixed timeline for prize completion.

Engineering work expands across Ethereum clients

Post-quantum engineering work is already underway within the Ethereum ecosystem.
Multi-client post-quantum consensus development networks are now running.Lighthouse and Grandine clients have launched post-quantum development networks.The Prysm client is expected to add similar support in the coming months.

These networks allow testing of new cryptographic assumptions.They also help developers assess performance and compatibility issues.Biweekly developer sessions on post-quantum transactions will begin next month.Researcher Antonio Sanso will lead these meetings.The foundation also plans in-person community events later this year.A three-day workshop is scheduled for October, with another session before EthCC.

Industry attention grows around quantum risks

The announcement comes amid wider industry focus on quantum preparedness.Coinbase recently formed an independent advisory board on quantum risks.Justin Drake is a member of that board, alongside Dan Boneh and Scott Aaronson.The board will assess threats to blockchain cryptography and migration paths.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has also stressed quantum resistance.He included it as a requirement in his “walkaway test” framework.Buterin has estimated a 20% chance of cryptography-breaking quantum machines before 2030.This view has influenced planning across the Ethereum ecosystem. Some analysts have raised similar concerns for other digital assets. Ethereum’s account abstraction roadmap may allow smoother cryptographic transitions.