Starknet Initiates Governance Poll on Layer-1 Migration Amid Quantum Computing Concerns
The Ethereum layer-2 network Starknet has launched a community vote to determine whether STRK token holders support investigating a transition to a standalone layer-1 blockchain, citing concerns about waiting for Ethereum's quantum-security implementation.
The Starknet network, currently operating as a layer-2 solution on Ethereum, has launched a non-binding governance poll to gauge whether STRK token holders believe the project should investigate transitioning into a standalone, quantum-resistant layer-1 blockchain.
The polling period commenced on Thursday and will remain active for seven days, presenting STRK holders with three distinct voting options: endorsing additional research into the transition, opposing the exploration, or maintaining a neutral stance while awaiting more detailed information. The voting window concludes on Oct. 22, at which point the outcomes will be made public.
Should the "Yes" option prevail, it would indicate community backing for continued investigation into the possibility, rather than providing authorization for an actual transition to occur. Any eventual migration would necessitate additional governance proposals and subsequent voting procedures, and StarkWare has not disclosed any specific timeline for implementing a layer-1 transformation.
According to StarkWare, the organization responsible for developing Starknet, this potential strategic shift would enable the network to implement quantum-resistant security measures independently, eliminating its reliance on Ethereum's upgrade timeline. At present, Starknet depends on Ethereum's infrastructure for critical components, including its bridging mechanism and data availability layer, both of which StarkWare has identified as ongoing quantum-security vulnerabilities.
Quantum-proofing crypto is urgent, so we must move at lightning speed
StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson
Both CEO Ben-Sasson and the official Starknet account previewed the governance proposal through individual posts on the X platform dated October 8, positioning the initiative as an effort to establish "the first fully quantum-resistant network" by the year 2027.
Back in June, StarkWare publicly released a comprehensive three-phase strategy for achieving quantum resistance across Starknet, which encompasses upgrading signature schemes, migrating smart contracts, and addressing infrastructure components that currently depend on Ethereum.
Earlier in March, Ethereum's core development team formed a specialized working group focused on post-quantum security measures, with plans to integrate preliminary protocol-level quantum protections into the network by the year 2029.