Cardano's Hoskinson Warns of Trade-offs in Post-Quantum Cryptocurrency Era

As reported by Bijié Wǎng, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has warned that transitioning to post-quantum cryptography involves significant trade-offs. He emphasized that the timing of protocol upgrades is more critical than the changes themselves, noting that premature implementation could impose high costs on blockchain networks. Hoskinson highlighted that post-quantum cryptographic tools already exist, referencing standards set by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology in 2024. He explained that post-quantum cryptography is typically 10 times slower, with 10 times larger proof sizes and lower efficiency, which could reduce blockchain throughput. While researchers agree that powerful quantum computers could eventually break current cryptography, opinions differ on when this threat will materialize. Hoskinson suggested focusing on DARPA’s quantum benchmarks rather than corporate timelines to assess the threat. He also outlined two competing cryptographic approaches—hash-based and lattice-based—each with distinct advantages and limitations. Rather than advocating for immediate protocol changes, he proposed a phased mitigation strategy, including the use of systems like Mithril and Midnight sidechains to create quantum-safe checkpoints for Cardano’s ledger history.