Starknet Community Backs Research into Independent Post-Quantum Layer-1 Blockchain

A governance vote lasting seven days concluded on Thursday, with nearly 3,200 participants casting votes. An impressive 93.52% favored moving forward with the proposed transition away from Ethereum.

The non-binding poll saw record participation in Starknet governance, according to StarkWare. The company abstained from voting to allow the community to decide the network's direction.

With the community mandate, StarkWare and the Starknet Foundation are now authorized to advance research on launching Starknet as an independent layer-1 blockchain. However, an official, binding governance vote will be required before any actual change takes place. Meanwhile, Starknet will continue functioning as a layer-2 solution on Ethereum.

"We are starting work on a whitepaper even before the weekend, aiming to publish a draft for public review in November," said StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson in an interview with Cointelegraph.

StarkWare and the Starknet Foundation have formed a working group tasked with investigating the proposed transition and crafting detailed technical plans.

According to the governance proposal, the STRK token will remain the network's native asset, with no plans to issue a new token. Additionally, existing bridges connecting Starknet and Ethereum will stay operational.

On October 8, StarkWare first introduced the concept of transitioning to an independent network due to concerns about Starknet's reliance on Ethereum for security. Despite using hash-based STARK proofs and supporting programmable accounts capable of handling post-quantum signatures, Starknet’s bridge and data availability depend on Ethereum’s upgrade schedule.

In June, StarkWare revealed a three-phase roadmap focused on quantum resistance, which includes cryptographic upgrades, migration of smart contracts, and continued dependence on Ethereum infrastructure.

The Quantum Hub at StarkWare reports successful testing of technology designed to protect against future quantum threats, having processed a live Starknet transaction with this experimental tech. However, the system is still under development and awaits a full security audit.

CEO Eli Ben-Sasson aims to achieve a quantum-resistant Starknet by 2027, which would be ahead of Ethereum’s own planned timeline.

Ben-Sasson remarked, "Ethereum’s goal to become quantum-safe by 2029 is too distant, and that timeline keeps slipping."

why

This community vote marks a decisive step toward making Starknet a standalone, quantum-secure blockchain, which could enhance its security and independence well before Ethereum's anticipated timeline. The research and eventual transition may position Starknet as a pioneering project in post-quantum blockchain technology.