Vitalik Buterin warned on October 7, 2026, that AI-driven mathematical advancements could compromise lattice-based cryptography within two years. He identified ML-DSA and Fully Homomorphic Encryption as systems at risk. Additionally, Buterin highlighted potential vulnerabilities in ECDSA signatures, which are widely used in cryptocurrency wallets to authorize transactions.
To mitigate these risks, Buterin recommends prioritizing hash-based signatures, such as WOTS and SPHINCS+, over lattice-based schemes. He also advised users to employ fresh addresses that have not yet executed transactions, as this prevents the exposure of public keys on-chain. Ethereum researcher Justin Drake supported these concerns, noting that AI could accelerate threats to ECDSA.
The Ethereum network has already begun shifting its roadmap toward hash-based signature schemes to reduce reliance on methods vulnerable to quantum or AI-driven attacks. While these risks extend to broader technologies like VPNs and messaging apps, no immediate market impact followed the warnings. Buterin emphasized that his two-year forecast is a probability rather than a certainty.
