Starknet Considers Separating from Ethereum to Become Quantum-Resistant

• 99.95% of voters support the current initiative, which is non-binding.
• It is the first major layer 2 solution proposing to separate from the Ethereum network.

The Starknet community, one of the leading layer 2 scalability solutions for Ethereum, is debating a historic proposal: to abandon its dependence on the main network to become an independent layer 1 (L1) blockchain that is resistant to quantum computing.

This vote, which opened on October 15 at 04:35 ART following the initial announcement from the development firm StarkWare, aims to gauge the interest of STRK token holders.

According to the data recorded so far on the voting platform, support for the separation is overwhelming. The option in favor (<>) accounts for 99.95% of preferences, accumulating over 316.4 million votes (each vote equals 1 STRK token), while the alternative against barely gathers 0.05% with 155,200 votes. The non-binding consultation period will conclude on October 22. The non-binding vote seeks to understand the preferences of network users. Source: Starknet governance forum -- Screenshot by CriptoNoticias automatically translated by Google.

The main argument behind this initiative, presented in the Starknet governance forum, lies in the technological security against future cyber threats.

The proponents of the proposal explained that the parts of the network under their direct control can achieve quantum resistance in the short term.

Starknet already operates with STARK proofs based on hashes and has native account abstraction, which makes its core protocol, according to official statements, protected against quantum computer attacks, and allows users to adopt post-quantum signatures without requiring a protocol update.

However, its current infrastructure depends on Ethereum components, such as bridges and data availability, whose shielding timelines are subject to the advancements of the main network. A leap to an independent L1 would eliminate that temporary dependency.

Ethereum, for its part, is developing its own defense strategy against the quantum threat. As reported by CriptoNoticias, in August 2026, developers of its ecosystem presented a draft to implement a new deposit contract that facilitates the transition to more robust algorithmic signatures, replacing the current BLS signatures that could be vulnerable to Shor's algorithm.

Despite these preventive efforts, estimates suggest that the most significant layer 1 updates related to this risk will not be executed until around 2029, a pace that StarkWare seems to consider a limiting factor for its own immediate security standards.

If the vote closes with a positive result, a formal research phase will begin, leading to more detailed technical proposals. In response to potential user concerns about the network's economy, the authors of the initiative clarified that the STRK token will remain the only asset of the ecosystem and no new cryptocurrency will be created, in addition to ensuring that communication bridges with Ethereum will remain open.

Starknet was gradually launched starting in late 2021 and completed its first implementation phase in February 2022, standing out as a rollup supported by ZK technology to reduce transaction costs.

If this technical separation is realized, it would set a fundamental precedent in the industry, being the first time that a scalability solution of this size decides to seek its total autonomy to take control of its consensus, security, and long-term architecture.

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