The XRP Ledger Foundation has updated its 2027 development roadmap to include the Quantum amendment. This proposal introduces post-quantum digital signatures based on the ML-DSA-44 algorithm, which was standardized by NIST in August 2024. The initiative aims to protect the network against potential future threats from powerful quantum computers.
The proposed security measure allows users to assign a post-quantum signature as a secondary method while disabling the primary one, ensuring account addresses and balances remain intact. The implementation is voluntary for both users and validators. Technical director Denis Angell developed the prototype, which has already undergone testing in the AlphaNet environment.
Transitioning to post-quantum signatures increases transaction size significantly, with the new signature and public key occupying 3732 bytes compared to 105 bytes for standard ones. Despite the increased data load, the base fee of 0.00001 XRP will remain unchanged. The foundation notes that this could increase network spam risks, as attackers could exert more pressure at the same cost.
The foundation estimates the cost to finalize the Quantum amendment at $215 000 to $255 000, covering code review, external audits, and wallet updates. The development requires an additional 640 hours of work. Ripple aims to implement post-quantum signatures by 2028, pending approval from over 80% of trusted validators for two consecutive weeks.
