Solana сотрудничает с Project Eleven для защиты от квантовых угроз Translation: Solana partners with Project Eleven to safeguard against quantum threats

The Solana Foundation has formed a partnership with Project Eleven to prepare the network for potential threats posed by quantum computers.

Experts have assessed the risks facing Solana and developed a testnet prototype utilizing post-quantum digital signatures.

The implementation demonstrated that «end-to-end quantum-resistant transactions are both practical and scalable.»

“Our responsibility is to ensure the security of the blockchain not just today, but for decades to come. The Solana ecosystem’s culture of rapid innovation will continue with the release of the second client and an advanced consensus mechanism this year,” said Matt Sorg, Vice President of Technology at the Solana Foundation.

It is unclear which specific standard of post-quantum encryption is being employed by the testnet developed by Project Eleven.

In early December, analysts from Helius Labs presented a plan for Solana to transition to post-quantum cryptography. They stated that the blockchain requires a «deep transformation of the core protocol.»

The main threat stems from Shor’s algorithm, which theoretically allows for the compromise of the current elliptic curve encryption standard (Ed25519).

The initial change will be a complete phase-out of Ed25519 as the foundational digital signature algorithm across all network components. Instead, post-quantum alternatives, such as the standardized NIST algorithm ML-DSA, will be introduced.

This will result in a significant increase in data size: the open key length will expand from 32 bytes to 1-2 KB, while the digital signature will grow from 64 bytes to several kilobytes.

The second step involves a total redesign of address and transaction formats. The current system, where the address is a 32-byte Ed25519 public key, will not accommodate post-quantum keys. As a result, addresses will instead consist of a shortened digital fingerprint (hash).

The transition is expected to be gradual: the new protocol version will operate alongside the existing one. However, the update will impact all levels of the system—from user wallets to validator authorization mechanisms.

There may be challenges affecting the network itself. Key components like the Votor consensus mechanism and the Rotor data transmission system currently rely on compact signatures. Their efficiency may be jeopardized in a post-quantum context.

For instance, Votor will lose the ability to swiftly aggregate thousands of validator votes, while Rotor may struggle to sign each small segment of a block due to the increased size of the new signatures.

“Solana doesn’t require an immediate shift to post-quantum cryptography. […] Estimates for the arrival of practical quantum computers range from ‘a few years’ to ‘never’. […] However, if migration ultimately becomes necessary, the path is conceptually clear. None of these changes are impossible,” the experts concluded.

Recall that in July, analysts from Mysten Labs identified Solana as resilient to quantum attacks because the blockchain operates on ECDSA.