The Ethereum Foundation aims to achieve full quantum resistance for its base layer by December 2029. This goal encompasses the execution, consensus, and data layers of the network's infrastructure. The timeline is driven by estimates from major tech companies that quantum computers could break public-key cryptography as early as 2030.
The transition begins with the Hegotá hard fork, scheduled for late Q4 2026. To reach full quantum readiness, known as 'L*', five additional hard forks are required. The planned pace is approximately 7.2 months per fork. A backup plan, 'MV-PQ' at milestone 'J*', allows for a slower cadence of about 12 months per fork.
Currently, about 65% of all ETH is held in addresses vulnerable to quantum attacks. Additionally, 42.4 million staked ETH rely on BLS signatures and other primitives that could be compromised. This means validators will need to migrate to post-quantum alternatives to maintain network security.
In January 2026, the Ethereum Foundation created a dedicated Post-Quantum Security team. This followed research from Google Quantum AI in March 2026, which estimated that breaking 256-bit elliptic curve cryptography would require roughly 1,200 logical qubits. The 2029 target aligns with timelines set by Google, Cloudflare, and Microsoft.
The process will likely require users to move their funds to new address formats. The Ethereum Foundation's plan follows the 2024 finalization of the first post-quantum cryptographic standards by NIST. The success of the timeline depends heavily on the timely release of the Hegotá fork in late 2026.