Solana Foundation partners with Project Eleven for quantum readiness.
The Solana Foundation has partnered with Project Eleven to prepare its network for potential threats posed by quantum computers.
Experts assessed the risks for Solana and developed a testnet prototype using post-quantum digital signatures.
The implementation demonstrated that “end-to-end quantum-resistant transactions are practical and scalable.”
“Our responsibility is to ensure the blockchain’s security not only today but for decades to come. Solana’s ecosystem culture of rapid innovation will continue with the release of a second client and an advanced consensus mechanism this year,” said Matt Sorg, Vice President of Technology at Solana Foundation.
It remains unknown which specific post-quantum encryption standard the Project Eleven test network employs.
In early December, analysts from Helius Labs presented a plan for Solana’s transition to post-quantum cryptography. According to them, the blockchain requires a “deep transformation of the protocol’s core.”
The primary threat comes from Shor’s algorithm, which theoretically allows the current elliptic curve encryption standard (Ed25519) to be cracked.
The first change will be the complete abandonment of Ed25519 as the base digital signature algorithm in all network components. Instead, post-quantum alternatives like the standardized NIST algorithm ML-DSA will need to be implemented.
This will result in a significant increase in data volumes: the public key size will grow from 32 bytes to 1-2 KB, and the digital signature from 64 bytes to several kilobytes.
The second step involves a complete redesign of address and transaction formats. The current system, where the address is a 32-byte Ed25519 public key, cannot accommodate post-quantum keys. Therefore, the address will become their shortened digital fingerprint (hash).
The transition is planned to be smooth: the new protocol version will operate alongside the current one. However, the update will affect all system levels — from user wallets to validator authorization mechanisms.
Challenges may arise with the network’s operation. Key components like the Votor consensus mechanism and the Rotor data transmission system currently rely on compact signatures. In a post-quantum world, their efficiency will be at risk.
For instance, Votor will lose the ability to quickly aggregate thousands of validator votes, and Rotor will be unable to sign each small block fragment due to the excessive size of new signatures.
