Starknet official media kit
Starknet weighs L1 transition to speed up quantum security roadmap
The move would allow Starknet to manage its security upgrades without waiting for Ethereum, which currently provides the underlying security for the layer 2.
Starknet is weighing a move from layer 2 to layer 1 as it looks to control its own security migration timeline and prepare for quantum computing and AI threats, Eli Ben-Sasson, co-founder and CEO of StarkWare, the software company that created Starknet, said Thursday.
Starknet becoming an L1 for post-quantum agility: good idea or bad idea?
Two giant elements we need to pay attention to:
(1) The quantum threat.
It may be MUCH closer than we think.(2) AI.
It's becoming more powerful than we can process.
Is anyone willing to bet how much time… pic.twitter.com/bLsxzwX2mQ— Eli Ben-Sasson | Starknet.io (@EliBenSasson) October 8, 2026
Starknet currently relies on Ethereum for its underlying security, meaning its ability to become quantum-safe is partly dependent on Ethereum’s upgrades.
Ben-Sasson said Starknet could reach quantum resistance by 2027, compared with Ethereum’s target of full L1 quantum resistance by the end of 2029. Bitcoin has not set a comparable target, he said.
The crypto founder said ZK-STARKs and crypto agility are key to preparing blockchains for future threats. Starknet already uses ZK-STARKs, supports cryptographic upgrades and has an active roadmap for migrating toward post-quantum security. He also warned that rapid mathematical advances driven by AI would create a separate reason for networks to adapt quickly.