Starknet launches 7-day vote on leaving Ethereum over quantum risks

Starknet has launched a seven-day community vote on October 15, 2026, asking STRK holders whether the network should explore leaving Ethereum’s Layer 2 ecosystem to become an independent Layer 1 blockchain designed to resist future quantum computing threats.

The Starknet governance forum published the proposal after StarkWare began discussing the possibility on October 8. The vote is nonbinding and will determine whether developers should conduct further research into the proposed change, with no decision yet made to separate Starknet from Ethereum.

The proposal confirms that STRK would remain the network’s native cryptocurrency under either arrangement, with no replacement token planned. Existing bridges connecting Ethereum and Starknet would remain available.

Starknet considers leaving Ethereum over quantum security

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 move would allow Starknet to operate as an independent Layer 1 blockchain, giving it more direct control over the systems responsible for its security.

BREAKING: STARKNET TAKES ITS INDEPENDENT POST-QUANTUM L1 AMBITION INTO GOVERNANCE.

A NEW GOVERNANCE POLL ASKS STRK HOLDERS TO BACK FURTHER RESEARCH INTO THE MOVE.

ethereum:0xca14007eff0db1f8135f4c25b34de49ab0d42766 https://t.co/yWH282iiqC

— Starknet Ecosystem 🥷🏽 (@StarknetEco) October 15, 2026

According to the governance proposal, concerns about future quantum computers have prompted developers to examine whether maintaining the current relationship with Ethereum could delay certain security improvements.

Quantum computers could eventually threaten widely used cryptographic systems, particularly some methods used to protect blockchain accounts and authorize transactions.

StarkWare believes its existing technology provides a foundation for addressing those risks. However, the proposal acknowledges that parts of Starknet remain dependent on Ethereum’s infrastructure.

The network currently uses Ethereum for functions including data availability and its main blockchain bridge. Changes to the security of those components depend partly on Ethereum’s own upgrade plans. Moving to an independent Layer 1 could allow Starknet developers to set security requirements for those functions without waiting for Ethereum.

The proposal does not identify a date for any transition or explain the complete technical process required to establish an independent network. Developers have not presented a final design covering consensus, data availability, bridging or migration procedures.

StarkWare began discussing the possible change publicly on October 8. The latest vote asks whether the community supports investing further resources in examining that option.

Why Starknet says its technology can resist quantum attacks

Starknet’s argument centers on its existing cryptographic system, known as STARK proofs.

These proofs allow computers to verify that transactions follow a network’s rules without repeating every calculation involved.

StarkWare explains that STARK proofs use mathematical techniques that do not depend on the same cryptographic assumptions as conventional elliptic curve signatures. The company describes its proof system as resistant to attacks from sufficiently powerful quantum computers.

Starknet uses native account abstraction, allowing user accounts to operate through programmable smart contracts.

According to its developers, this structure would allow accounts to adopt quantum resistant signature methods without requiring a complete network protocol upgrade.

However, the governance proposal does not claim that every part of Starknet has already completed the necessary security improvements.

The project maintains a Quantum Hub describing existing protections and the components that still need work.

Its research identifies the cryptographic systems used for account authorization, transaction verification and connections with other blockchains as areas requiring continued attention.

The network has previously discussed replacing certain cryptographic components with alternatives designed for stronger quantum resistance.

For example, StarkWare has explored replacing older hash functions and introducing new signature methods as researchers develop and test them.

The company’s published technical work describes quantum protection as a process involving multiple components, not a single network upgrade.

In an earlier discussion of Ethereum security and StarkWare’s research, StarkWare cofounder Eli Ben-Sasson described the company’s history of developing STARK technology for Ethereum.

He pointed to work beginning in 2019 and 2020 on proof systems intended to improve blockchain scaling and prepare for possible quantum computing risks.

Starknet confirms STRK token will remain unchanged

The governance proposal addresses what would happen to STRK if developers eventually pursued an independent blockchain. It states that the existing cryptocurrency would remain Starknet’s native token regardless of whether the network continued operating on Ethereum or became a separate Layer 1.

Developers are not proposing to issue a new token as part of the possible transition. The proposal further confirms that bridges between Ethereum and Starknet would remain open.

Consequently, the discussion does not represent a plan to immediately close connections with Ethereum or remove existing routes for transferring assets between the networks.

Starknet’s current infrastructure supports applications involving decentralized finance, cryptocurrency transfers and blockchain privacy services.

On October 13, StarkWare introduced Shadow Accounts, allowing users to interact with decentralized applications without publicly linking every activity to their main wallets.

As detailed in Starknet’s new wallet privacy feature, the system creates separate application accounts funded through shielded balances.

Transactions and positions held by Shadow Accounts remain visible on the blockchain, although the links to their original funding wallets are obscured.

The system is part of Starknet’s ongoing work on account functionality and privacy.

Earlier in June, StarkWare introduced STRK20, a privacy framework that allows compatible tokens to move between public and shielded balances.

The STRK20 privacy framework for blockchain tokens uses cryptographic proofs to verify private transactions while maintaining mechanisms for authorized disclosure.

Neither of those developments requires Starknet to become an independent Layer 1, and developers have not announced changes to the services as part of the governance poll.

Seven day vote will determine whether research continues

The community vote is open to STRK holders and will remain active for seven days beginning October 15. Its purpose is to measure whether participants support further examination of Starknet becoming an independent blockchain. The proposal provides three possible outcomes: Yes, No and Neutral.

A Yes result would begin a research process focused on the independent Layer 1 option. Developers would then prepare more detailed proposals and conduct additional votes. A No result would keep Starknet’s quantum security work within its existing Ethereum Layer 2 structure.

If the result is Neutral, the governance discussion would remain open while participants seek answers to unresolved questions. The forum states that results will become visible immediately when the polling period closes.

Community members can participate through the Starknet governance portal, with discussion continuing on the official forum.

The voting process does not establish a timetable for migration, authorize a network upgrade or require existing users to move their assets.

Starknet’s published decentralization roadmap currently includes work on validator participation, consensus and network security.

The roadmap describes plans for validators to participate in block validation and later take responsibility for additional network operations. StarkWare has said that its work on quantum protection remains active regardless of the vote’s outcome.

The October 15 governance proposal specifies that a favorable result would begin research followed by more detailed proposals and polls. No final migration vote or date has been announced.