Starknet token holders overwhelmingly approved research into converting the Ethereum Layer 2 network into an independent, post-quantum Layer 1. The initial Snapshot poll ran for seven days and ended on Thursday morning. StarkWare said the proposal received support from more than 93.5% of voting power, with over 2,800 wallets participating. StarkWare, the company developing Starknet, abstained from the poll so the community could decide.
StarkWare and the Starknet Foundation will now conduct further research into the possible transition. STRK holders would need to approve any subsequent proposal to move the network through another vote. StarkWare expects to publish a draft whitepaper next month. CEO Eli Ben-Sasson said work would begin before the weekend, with a draft intended for public review in November.
Ben-Sasson said the community had chosen to take the lead in addressing the greatest security challenge cryptocurrency has faced. Ben-Sasson said AI agents are accelerating the quantum threat in ways many people do not recognize. Ben-Sasson argued that Ethereum's 2029 target for becoming quantum-safe is too late and warned that deadlines can slip, citing the wait for the Merge. Ben-Sasson has set 2027 as Starknet's target for becoming quantum-safe. No date has been agreed for a possible move to Layer 1.
Starknet uses hash-based cryptography, and Starknet accounts can implement post-quantum signatures without protocol modifications. However, the team explained that Starknet depends on Ethereum for security, limiting Starknet's quantum protection to Ethereum's level. The proposal identifies Starknet's reliance on Ethereum for the bridge and data availability as the central issue. According to the proposal, those components cannot achieve quantum safety independently of Ethereum.
Ben-Sasson initially suggested the Layer 1 option on October 8, and the community poll began on October 15. StarkWare had outlined a three-phase post-quantum roadmap in June. The Starknet Foundation said STRK will continue as the network's native token regardless of the community's choice. The Starknet Foundation said no new token will be created and bridges connecting Ethereum to Starknet will stay open.