- NEAR’s nearcore 2.13 upgrade introduced ML-DSA-65 signing, enabling users to add quantum-resistant keys without transferring assets.
- Quantum-resistant protection is voluntary; existing keys remain supported, and accounts gain protection only when users add and use the new keys.
- NEAR’s upgrade also introduced dynamic resharding, while validator keys still rely on existing cryptography, leaving parts of the network unprotected.
NEAR Protocol has introduced quantum-resistant signing for accounts without requiring users to move their assets. Co-founder Illia Polosukhin says account holders can strengthen security by changing their access keys. The feature arrived with the network’s July 2.13 upgrade, although existing keys remain supported and the change does not protect every part of NEAR.
NEAR Adds Quantum-Resistant Account Keys
The upgrade supports ML-DSA-65, a digital signing scheme designed to resist attacks from future quantum computers. According to technical proposal NEP-645, users can add the new key to an existing account and use it to sign transactions.
Notably, NEAR accounts use account IDs that remain separate from individual cryptographic keys. This structure allows users to rotate access keys without creating another account or transferring their holdings.
By comparison, Bitcoin and Ethereum addresses are tied to keypairs derived through their existing cryptographic systems. Changing those systems can require users to move assets to different addresses.
Existing Keys Remain Active After the Upgrade
NEAR introduced the feature through nearcore 2.13 in July. However, the change is voluntary, and existing keys and wallets continue to work. An account gains protection only when its owner adds and uses the quantum-resistant key.
If an older key remains active, that access route retains its existing security limitations. Additionally, the upgrade does not make the entire network quantum-resistant. Validator keys still rely on existing cryptography, according to the supplied information.
Polosukhin’s statement therefore concerns account-level protection through key updates, rather than complete network-wide protection. The distinction matters because users must change their account access arrangements to use the new signing method.
Van de Poppe Responds to NEAR’s Development
Analyst Michael van de Poppe said NEAR was already responding to quantum-computing risks. He described the development pace positively and said he did not think investors should be bearish.
The July 2.13 upgrade also introduced dynamic resharding, which allows the network to split shards automatically when they reach defined state-size thresholds. Previously, adding shards required protocol upgrades and validator coordination.
According to Polosukhin, NEAR designed its account model with future quantum safety in mind. The network is also working with hardware and software wallet developers, including Ledger, to bring post-quantum support to users.
Developers can rotate account keys to ML-DSA-65 using the NEAR CLI. The feature provides an account-level option while validator keys and older access methods remain unchanged.