Ethereum Makes Major Cryptography Pivot to Prepare for Quantum Era

Ethereum Foundation is shifting its long-term Layer 1 cryptography strategy away from Poseidon and toward standard hashes such as SHA-2 or BLAKE, after new SNARK designs showed traditional hashes can now match Poseidon’s performance in proof systems. The move is aimed at strengthening Ethereum’s post-quantum security posture while reducing reliance on specialized, riskier cryptographic structures. Researcher Justin Drake said the decision concludes an eight-year research effort and reflects confidence in binary-field proof systems like Binius and Flock. The roadmap cited a production-grade leanVM in 2027, with consensus, data, and execution layer deployments penciled in for 2028. The announcement is strategically significant for Ethereum because it suggests a major base-layer redesign that could improve long-term security, though it does not affect existing projects or make Poseidon obsolete.