Solana News: Network Begins Testing Post-Quantum Cryptography

• December 16, 2025
• |
• 22:39 (UTC+8)

The design lifespan of modern blockchains can reach several decades, but most of their cryptographic technologies were created for a world where computers evolve gradually.

Now, people are beginning to question this assumption—not because quantum computers are ready, but because it will be too late to act once they are.

The entire industry is beginning to view quantum resistance as an architectural challenge rather than an emergency. Solana is the latest major blockchain company to adopt this philosophy.

Security Planning Shifts from Reactive to Proactive Design

Historically, upgrades in cryptography often occurred after crises. Vulnerabilities were discovered, attacks emerged, and patches were quickly released. Quantum computing changes this dynamic. If cryptography fails at scale, there is no buffer period to respond.

This reality is prompting blockchain developers to explore defenses before threats emerge. Today’s focus is less on protection and more on providing options—ensuring that viable migration paths exist if future assumptions about cryptographic security change.

Solana Tests the Limits of Its Cryptographic Model

Solana’s current security relies on Ed25519 signatures, a fast and efficient system that underpins wallets, validators, and transaction authorization. While it can withstand traditional attacks, it lacks sufficient defense against sufficiently advanced quantum methods.

Rather than completely replacing its existing system, Solana is experimenting at the margins. By collaborating with cryptography-focused company Project Eleven, the network is testing whether post-quantum signature schemes can operate in Solana’s high-throughput environment.

These experiments are being conducted on testnets, where researchers are evaluating everything from validator behavior to testnet performance. Wallets

Wallets interact under the quantum-resistant transaction model.

Migration Matters More Than Algorithms

One of the trickiest issues in the post-quantum security field is not mathematical, but logistical. Blockchains do not exist in isolation—they carry years of history, billions of dollars in assets, and millions of users.

Project Eleven’s work focuses not only on cryptographic primitives, but also on migration strategies. The goal is to understand how, if new standards need to be adopted in the future, assets, addresses, and keys can transition securely.

The industry has yet to reach consensus. Different chains are exploring different address formats, signature mechanisms, and upgrade plans, highlighting that the field is still in its early stages.

The Industry Is Taking Action Before Consensus Forms

Solana’s move reflects a broader trend. No blockchain is strictly “quantum-ready” yet, but many have begun exploratory work. Although it is widely believed that real-world quantum attacks may still be years or even decades away, these early activities are underway.

Even important warnings from industry leaders remain probabilistic rather than predictive. Uncertainty itself is the driving factor. If the timeline is unclear, preparation becomes a hedge rather than a prediction.

A Prolonged Battle Without a Deadline

Currently, quantum computing remains confined to laboratories and controlled experiments. With existing hardware, large-scale cracking of blockchain cryptography is not yet feasible. But cryptography has a long memory—redesign takes time.

Solana’s approach marks a shift in how blockchain security is handled. Networks are no longer just optimizing for speed and efficiency, but are beginning to optimize for survivability across different technological eras.

Quantum resistance is not a feature that users can perceive or utilize. It is a hidden design choice, intended to ensure that when cryptographic assumptions eventually change, the network does not need to be rebuilt from scratch.