Ethereum Foundation Launches Post-Quantum Security Team with $2M Prize Fund
TLDR
The Ethereum Foundation formed an independent post-quantum group led by Thomas Koratger and Emile from LINVM.
Foundation announces $2M in awards targeting Poseidon hash function and post-quantum cryptographic research.
Multi-client PQ agreement devnets exist with participation from pioneering and established teams.
An AI-powered account completed the complex cryptographic verification in eight hours at a cost of $200 to the project.
The Ethereum Foundation has made post-quantum security a top strategic priority, announcing the formation of an independent team led by Thomas Koratger.
In the year It will build on research done in 2019 and include several engineering breakthroughs from 2024.
The foundation has outlined comprehensive plans that include developer coordination, confidential research, and networking through various programs and incentives.
New team Spearheads multifaceted implementation strategy
Emile joined another VM project in the newly formed Post-Quantum team under the leadership of Thomas Koratger. LeanVM serves as the cryptographic foundation for the entire post-quantum strategy.
Justin Drake announced the development, describing the initiative as “a shift in the Ethereum Foundation's long-term Quantum strategy.” After years of quiet research, the Foundation's management has officially raised PQ's security.
The initiative kicks off into 2019 with a presentation on “Eth3.0 Quantum Security” at the StarkWare sessions. Post-quantum considerations have been central to Ethereum's weak outlook since 2024.
Since then, engineering achievements have increased exponentially. “It's now 2026, the timeline is accelerating,” Drake emphasized the urgency.
Antonio Sanso will lead bi-weekly all Core Devs PQ marketing calls next month. These sessions will address user-facing security concerns and technical implementation.
Topics include dedicated presets, tagging, and marketing signature collection. The synthesis represents a systematic approach to integrating post-quantum conservation.
Multi-client PQ agreement devnets have gone live with the participation of multiple teams. Ziam, Rem Labs, Piertwo, Gen Client and Etlamda Lean are spearheading the effort.
Established consensus groups, Lighthouse and Grandine have joined, with Prism expected soon. Weekly PQ interop calls coordinated by Corcor facilitate teamwork between executions.
Research incentives and educational programs support the transition
The Foundation announced a $1M Poseidon Prize aimed at strengthening the Poseidon hash function. This investment reflects a strategic bet on the fundamentals of hash-based cryptography.
The initiative complements another $1m program called the Proximity Award. Both awards aim to strengthen the mathematical support of post-quantum security.
Artificial intelligence has proven valuable in advancing cryptographic research. Alex Hicks developed a special math AI for eight hours at a cost of $200.
The system has completed a formal proof of one of the most difficult lemmas. “Applied cryptography will never be the same,” Drake said of the achievement.
The foundation plans to organize a three-day PQ workshop in October. This follows an earlier workshop in Cambridge last year.
An additional PQ date is scheduled for March 29 in Cannes before EthCC. These meetings facilitate knowledge sharing between researchers and developers.
A comprehensive roadmap details the proposed strategy at pq.ethereum.org. The plan aims at zero loss of full cash flow in the coming years.
ZKPodcast is producing a six-part video series on Ethereum PQ strategy. Ethereum has gained representation on Coinbase's PQ advisory board.
