# Post Quantum Security Team

> A dedicated team established by the Ethereum Foundation in January 2026 to research, develop, and implement quantum-resistant cryptographic solutions to safegua...

- Canonical URL: https://iq.wiki/wiki/post-quantum-security-team
- Categories: Organizations
- Tags: Developer
- Created: 2026-01-25T16:57:01.971Z
- Last updated: 2026-01-25T20:45:25.591Z
- Source: IQ.wiki — the world's largest blockchain and crypto encyclopedia (https://iq.wiki)

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The **Post-Quantum (PQ) Security Team** is a specialized group established within the [Ethereum Foundation](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum-foundation-ef) in January 2026. The team's primary purpose is to research, develop, and shepherd the implementation of quantum-resistant cryptographic solutions to protect the [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) network from future security threats posed by quantum computers. Its formation represented a significant strategic shift for the foundation, elevating post-quantum security to a top priority and moving from a period of background research to an active, public engineering phase. [\[1\]](#cite-id-87p7HYK8Q3GbfjFt) [\[2\]](#cite-id-uyL24aBOptsv60y6)​

## Overview

The Post-Quantum (PQ) Security Team was created to address the long-term risk that large-scale quantum computers pose to the public-key cryptography, such as the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA), that currently secures the [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) network and user accounts. A sufficiently powerful quantum computer could theoretically break this encryption, allowing an attacker to derive a user's private key from their public key and steal their assets. The team’s formation in January 2026 marked what [Ethereum Foundation](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum-foundation-ef) researcher [Justin Drake](https://iq.wiki/wiki/justin-drake) called an "inflection point" where post-quantum security was officially declared a "top strategic priority" by the foundation's management. [\[3\]](#cite-id-XdF0zktlLKxZdlSD) [\[4\]](#cite-id-mMr8NACk4zRoV79B)​

The initiative represents a transition from years of "quiet R\&D" into an active "public engineering push". [\[5\]](#cite-id-mwl9tX34NqB4QkcU) The team is tasked with developing a comprehensive roadmap for a complete network upgrade in the coming years. The strategy is built around proactively implementing solutions well before the quantum threat becomes practical, recognizing that upgrading a large, decentralized network is a complex and lengthy process. The core of the technical strategy is a focus on hash-based cryptography, which is considered a strong and efficient foundation for post-quantum security. [\[1\]](#cite-id-87p7HYK8Q3GbfjFt) [\[3\]](#cite-id-XdF0zktlLKxZdlSD)​

## History and Motivation

The [Ethereum Foundation](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum-foundation-ef)'s work on post-quantum security began as early as 2019, with the "Eth3.0 Quantum Security" presentation at the StarkWare Sessions. In 2024, post-quantum security became a central component of the `leanEthereum` concept, and the foundation hosted its first dedicated Post-Quantum workshop in Cambridge in 2025. [\[2\]](#cite-id-uyL24aBOptsv60y6) [\[1\]](#cite-id-87p7HYK8Q3GbfjFt)​

The urgency to formalize this effort increased due to "accelerating timelines" in quantum computing development. In November 2025, [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) co-founder [Vitalik Buterin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/vitalik-buterin) warned that the network's elliptic curve cryptography could become vulnerable to quantum attacks as early as 2028. [\[2\]](#cite-id-uyL24aBOptsv60y6) He had previously estimated a 20% probability of quantum computers capable of breaking current cryptography emerging before 2030. [\[4\]](#cite-id-mMr8NACk4zRoV79B) On January 12, 2026, Buterin listed quantum resistance as a "non-negotiable" component of his "walkaway test" for [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum)'s long-term sustainability, stating a desire for the protocol to be "cryptographically safe for a hundred years". [\[3\]](#cite-id-XdF0zktlLKxZdlSD)​

This culminated on January 23, 2026, when [Ethereum Foundation](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum-foundation-ef) researcher [Justin Drake](https://iq.wiki/wiki/justin-drake) officially announced the formation of the new team on the social media platform X. The news was widely reported the following day, solidifying the public commitment to a full post-quantum transition. Drake stated, "It’s now 2026, timelines are accelerating. Time to go full PQ." [\[4\]](#cite-id-mMr8NACk4zRoV79B) [\[2\]](#cite-id-uyL24aBOptsv60y6)​

## Team

The Post-Quantum Security Team is led by [Thomas Coratger](https://iq.wiki/wiki/thomas-coratger), a cryptographic engineer at the [Ethereum Foundation](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum-foundation-ef). He and his contributing team are also behind the development of the LeanVM project. [\[3\]](#cite-id-XdF0zktlLKxZdlSD) [\[4\]](#cite-id-mMr8NACk4zRoV79B)​

Several other key individuals are involved with the team and its initiatives:

* **Emile** is a cryptographer and member of the PQ team, described as a "world-class talent" and a key figure behind the development of `leanVM`. [\[2\]](#cite-id-uyL24aBOptsv60y6) [\[5\]](#cite-id-mwl9tX34NqB4QkcU)
* [**Justin Drake**](https://iq.wiki/wiki/justin-drake) is a researcher at the [Ethereum Foundation](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum-foundation-ef) who publicly announced the team's formation and serves as a key spokesperson and proponent of its strategic direction. He is also a member of [Coinbase](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coinbase)'s Quantum Computing Advisory Board, indicating cross-industry alignment on the issue. [\[4\]](#cite-id-mMr8NACk4zRoV79B)
* [**Antonio Sanso**](https://iq.wiki/wiki/antonio-sanso) is a researcher tasked with leading the bi-weekly "All Core Devs PQ transactions breakout call," which focuses on the user-facing aspects of the post-quantum transition. [\[1\]](#cite-id-87p7HYK8Q3GbfjFt)
* [**Will Corcoran**](https://iq.wiki/wiki/will-corcoran) coordinates the multi-client post-quantum consensus development networks (devnets) and the weekly interoperability calls between the participating development teams. [\[1\]](#cite-id-87p7HYK8Q3GbfjFt)
* [**Alex Hicks**](https://iq.wiki/wiki/alex-hicks) is a researcher involved in using artificial intelligence for the formal verification of cryptographic foundations. He successfully used a specialized AI to generate a formal proof for a complex lemma in hash-based [SNARKs](https://iq.wiki/wiki/zk-snark), a development Drake described as "Mind-blowing." [\[1\]](#cite-id-87p7HYK8Q3GbfjFt)

## Technical Strategy and Development

The team's strategy is focused on a proactive and multi-faceted engineering effort centered on hash-based cryptography. [\[1\]](#cite-id-87p7HYK8Q3GbfjFt)​

### leanVM Virtual Machine

The "cryptographic cornerstone" of Ethereum’s entire post-quantum strategy is a project called `leanVM`. It is a minimalist [zero-knowledge proof (ZKP)](https://iq.wiki/wiki/zero-knowledge-proofs-zkps) virtual machine specifically optimized for quantum-resistant, hash-based signatures. The `leanVM` is central to the long-term plan for implementing efficient aggregation of transaction signatures, a key component for maintaining network performance after the transition. [\[3\]](#cite-id-XdF0zktlLKxZdlSD) [\[4\]](#cite-id-mMr8NACk4zRoV79B)​

### Consensus and Execution Layers

As of the team's announcement in January 2026, multi-client post-quantum consensus development networks were already operational. These devnets allow for the testing and validation of the new post-quantum systems in a live, multi-client environment. Established consensus client teams such as `Lighthouse` and `Grandine` had implemented these devnets, with the `Prysm` client team expected to release its implementation soon. This work is supported by pioneering teams like `@zeamETH`, `@ReamLabs`, `@PierTwo_com`, `@geanclient`, and `@ethlambda_lean`. [\[2\]](#cite-id-uyL24aBOptsv60y6) [\[1\]](#cite-id-87p7HYK8Q3GbfjFt)​

### Account Abstraction and User-Facing Security

Ethereum's account abstraction roadmap (via EIP-4337) is considered a key advantage, as it is believed to provide a clearer and smoother migration path for users to adopt quantum-resistant accounts compared to the hard-fork-dependent model of blockchains like [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin). [\[4\]](#cite-id-mMr8NACk4zRoV79B) The developer sessions led by [Antonio Sanso](https://iq.wiki/wiki/antonio-sanso) are set to concentrate on these user-facing defenses, including exploring post-quantum security through account abstraction and developing dedicated cryptographic precompiles. [\[5\]](#cite-id-mwl9tX34NqB4QkcU)​

### Formal Verification and AI

The team is leveraging artificial intelligence to accelerate the formal verification (FV) of the complex cryptographic proofs that underpin post-quantum systems. This approach was highlighted by the work of researcher [Alex Hicks](https://iq.wiki/wiki/alex-hicks), who successfully used an AI tool to generate a formal proof for alemma related to hash-based SNARKs, demonstrating the potential for AI to enhance the security and reliability of the new cryptographic foundations. [\[1\]](#cite-id-87p7HYK8Q3GbfjFt)​

## Research, Funding, and Community Engagement

The [Ethereum Foundation](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum-foundation-ef) has committed significant financial resources and community-building initiatives to support the post-quantum transition.

### Research Prizes

To incentivize research and harden the cryptographic primitives of its strategy, the foundation has established multi-million dollar prize pools.

* **The Poseidon Prize:** A $1 million prize was announced to encourage analysis and improvements to "harden" the Poseidon hash function. This function is a type of STARK-friendly hash function critical to Ethereum's zero-knowledge proof systems and its broader hash-based strategy. [\[4\]](#cite-id-mMr8NACk4zRoV79B) [\[3\]](#cite-id-XdF0zktlLKxZdlSD)
* **The Proximity Prize:** An additional $1 million has been allocated for another post-quantum initiative under this name to incentivize broader research in the field. [\[2\]](#cite-id-uyL24aBOptsv60y6)

### Developer and Community Events

A series of events and regular meetings are planned to accelerate development and foster community collaboration. These include:

* Bi-weekly "All Core Devs PQ transactions breakout calls" scheduled to begin in February 2026. [\[1\]](#cite-id-87p7HYK8Q3GbfjFt)
* A dedicated "PQ day" event planned for March 29, 2026, in Cannes, just before the [Ethereum Community Conference (EthCC)](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum-community-conference-ethcc). [\[1\]](#cite-id-87p7HYK8Q3GbfjFt)
* A three-day thematic workshop on post-quantum security scheduled for October 2026 in Cambridge, intended to convene global experts. [\[2\]](#cite-id-uyL24aBOptsv60y6)

### Educational and Industry Collaboration

The team is engaged in educational outreach and industry-wide collaboration. The EF Enterprise Acceleration arm is preparing educational materials targeted at enterprises and nation-states. Additionally, a collaboration with ZKPodcast is underway to produce a six-part video series explaining [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum)'s PQ strategy. In a sign of broader industry cooperation, the [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) [Foundation](https://iq.wiki/wiki/foundation) is also a represented member on the post-quantum advisory board announced by [Coinbase](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coinbase) in January 2026. [\[1\]](#cite-id-87p7HYK8Q3GbfjFt)​