Quantum threat prompts Solana to act: Foundation backs post-quantum testnet with Project Eleven As fears about quantum computers cracking blockchain signatures grow, the Solana Foundation has moved from talk to action. In a new partnership with post-quantum security firm Project Eleven, the foundation commissioned a threat assessment and helped bring a functioning post-quantum testnet to life — demonstrating that quantum-resistant transactions can be practical and scalable on Solana. Project Eleven’s engagement covered a broad risk analysis of Solana’s stack, examining user wallets, validator security, and the cryptographic assumptions that secure the network. The firm also implemented a working post-quantum digital signature system on a Solana testnet, providing an early proof-of-concept that migration paths toward quantum-resistant cryptography are viable. “Our responsibility is to ensure Solana remains secure not just today, but decades into the future,” said Matt Sorg, VP of Technology at the Solana Foundation. He added that the initiative complements other ecosystem upgrades, including the planned release of a second client and an advanced consensus mechanism later this year. Alex Pruden, CEO of Project Eleven, praised Solana’s proactive stance: “Solana didn’t wait for quantum computers to become a headline problem. They invested early, asked the hard questions, and took actionable steps today.” The move comes amid industry concern that sufficiently powerful quantum machines could one day derive private keys and break digital signatures — a foundational security model for nearly all blockchains. Experts are racing to implement countermeasures; several groups are already experimenting with the post-quantum cryptography algorithms established by NIST, according to Doug Finke, Chief Content Officer at Global Quantum Intelligence. Finke warned of the uncertainty around timing and the risk that a hostile actor could develop quantum capability in secret. Some crypto projects have already baked quantum-safe cryptography into their protocols, including Quantum Resistant Ledger (QRL), Cellframe, and Bitcoin Quantum (BTQ). High-profile figures and institutions — such as Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko, Capriole Investment’s Charles Edwards, and representatives from firms like BlackRock and Google — have issued similar warnings. Yakovenko has urged the Bitcoin community to accelerate quantum-resistant upgrades and estimated a roughly 50% chance of a significant quantum breakthrough within five years. Market context: SOL was trading around $127 at the time of the announcement, down about 6.7% over the past week and roughly 56% below its $293 all-time high reached earlier this year. What this means: Solana’s collaboration with Project Eleven is an early but important step toward hardening major smart-contract platforms against a future quantum risk. While a quantum-capable threat remains uncertain in timing, these testnets and threat assessments create practical playbooks for how blockchains could transition to post-quantum signatures without sacrificing performance. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

#BTC