On October 15, 2026, Starknet launched a seven-day community vote asking STRK holders whether the project should explore transitioning away from Ethereum’s Layer 2 ecosystem to become an independent Layer 1 blockchain designed to resist future quantum computing threats.
Starknet has launched a 7-day community vote to explore an independent, quantum-resistant blockchain network.
STRK holders are asked to express their opinions, but this vote does not authorize any migration.
StarkWare states that existing STARK proofs are quantum-resistant, but the infrastructure connected to Ethereum still has dependencies.
Starknet stated that STRK will continue to serve as its native token, and the existing Ethereum bridge will remain open.
If approved, research will be initiated and further votes will be conducted; if rejected, the quantum upgrade will continue to be advanced within Starknet’s L2.
The Starknet governance forum published this proposal following discussions initiated by StarkWare on October 8 about the possibility. This vote is non-binding and will determine whether developers should conduct further research into the proposed change; no decision has yet been made regarding separating Starknet from Ethereum.
The proposal confirms that, regardless of the arrangement adopted, STRK will continue to serve as the native cryptocurrency of the network, with no plans to issue a replacement token. The existing bridges connecting Ethereum and Starknet will also remain available.
Starknet is considering leaving Ethereum due to quantum security concerns.
Starknet currently operates as an Ethereum Layer 2 network, processing transactions using its own infrastructure while relying on Ethereum for certain security and settlement functions.
The proposed transition will enable Starknet to operate as an independent Layer 1 blockchain, giving it more direct control over the systems responsible for its security.
Concerns about future quantum computers, as outlined in the governance proposal, have prompted developers to investigate whether maintaining the current relationship with Ethereum might delay certain security improvements.
Quantum computers may eventually threaten widely used encryption systems, particularly certain methods used to secure blockchain accounts and authorize transactions.
StarkWare believes its existing technology provides a foundation for addressing these risks. However, the proposal also acknowledges that certain features of Starknet still rely on Ethereum's infrastructure.
The network currently relies on Ethereum for data availability and main chain bridging, among other functions. Changes to the security of these components are partially dependent on Ethereum’s own upgrade roadmap. By transitioning to an independent Layer 1, Starknet developers could set their own security requirements for these features without waiting for Ethereum.
The proposal does not specify any migration dates or explain the complete technical process required to establish an independent network. Developers have not yet submitted a final design covering consensus, data availability, bridging, or the migration procedure.
StarkWare began publicly discussing this potential change on October 8. The latest vote aims to gauge whether the community supports allocating additional resources to research this option.
Why does Starknet believe its technology can resist quantum attacks?
The core argument for Starknet lies in its existing cryptographic system: STARK proofs.
These proofs allow computers to verify that transactions follow network rules without having to re-execute each calculation.
StarkWare explains that the mathematical techniques used in STARK proofs do not rely on the same cryptographic assumptions as traditional elliptic curve signatures. The company describes its proof system as resistant to attacks from sufficiently powerful quantum computers.
Starknet uses native account abstraction to enable user accounts to operate through programmable smart contracts.
According to its developers, this structure will allow accounts to adopt quantum-resistant signing methods without requiring a full upgrade of the entire network protocol.
However, the governance proposal does not claim that all parts of Starknet have completed the required security improvements.
The project maintains a Quantum Hub to illustrate existing protective measures and components that still require improvement.
Its research points out that cryptographic systems used for account authorization, transaction verification, and connectivity with other blockchains are areas requiring ongoing attention.
This network previously discussed replacing certain cryptographic components with more quantum-resistant alternatives.
For example, StarkWare has been researching replacements for older hash functions and introducing new signing methods as researchers develop and test new schemes.
The company's published technical work describes quantum protection as a multi-component process rather than a single network upgrade.
In a previous discussion on Ethereum security and StarkWare research, StarkWare co-founder Eli Ben-Sasson mentioned the company’s history of developing STARK technology for Ethereum.
He noted that the company has been researching proof systems since 2019 and 2020 aimed at enhancing blockchain scalability and preparing for potential quantum computing risks.
Starknet confirms that the STRK token will remain unchanged.
The governance proposal discusses how STRK would change if developers ultimately proceed with an independent blockchain. It states that, whether the network continues to operate on Ethereum or becomes an independent Layer 1, existing tokens will continue to serve as Starknet’s native token.
The developers did not propose issuing new tokens as part of this potential transition. The proposal also confirms that the bridge between Ethereum and Starknet will remain open.
Therefore, this discussion does not imply an immediate disconnection from Ethereum or the removal of existing channels for transferring assets between the two networks.
Starknet's current infrastructure supports applications such as decentralized finance, cryptocurrency transfers, and blockchain privacy services.
On October 13, StarkWare launched Shadow Accounts, enabling users to interact with decentralized applications without publicly linking each activity to their main wallet.
As described in Starknet’s new wallet privacy feature, the system creates independent application accounts funded by protected balances.
Transactions and holdings in Shadow Accounts are still visible on the blockchain, but their connection to the original funding wallet is concealed.
This system is part of Starknet’s ongoing efforts to enhance account functionality and privacy.
In June this year, StarkWare also launched STRK20, a privacy framework that enables compatible tokens to transfer between public and protected balances.
The STRK20 privacy framework for blockchain tokens uses cryptographic proofs to verify private transactions while maintaining an authorized disclosure mechanism.
Neither of these developments requires Starknet to become an independent Layer 1, and developers have not announced any changes to these services as a result of this governance vote.
A 7-day vote will determine whether the research continues.
This community vote is open to STRK holders and will run for seven days starting October 15. Its purpose is to gauge whether participants support further research into Starknet becoming an independent blockchain. The proposal offers three possible outcomes: Yes, No, and Neutral.
If the result is Yes, a research process will be initiated around independent Layer 1 options. Developers will then prepare more detailed proposals and conduct additional votes. If the result is No, Starknet’s quantum-safe work will remain within the existing Ethereum Layer 2 structure.
If the result is Neutral, the governance discussion will remain open, and participants will continue seeking answers to unresolved issues. The forum stated that the results will be displayed immediately after the voting period ends.
Community members can participate through the Starknet governance portal, while discussions continue on the official forum.
This voting process does not establish a migration schedule, does not authorize network upgrades, and does not require existing users to transfer their assets.
Starknet's publicly announced decentralized roadmap currently includes work on validator participation, consensus, and network security.
This roadmap outlines plans for validators to participate in block validation and subsequently take on additional network operational responsibilities. StarkWare stated that its quantum-resistant efforts will continue regardless of the voting outcome.
The governance proposal on October 15 clearly stated that, if the outcome is favorable, research will be initiated first, followed by a more detailed proposal and subsequent voting. The final migration vote or date has not yet been announced.