NEAR targets quantum-safe consensus by the end of 2027

A step-by-step push toward quantum resistance

@NEARProtocol has published a post-quantum roadmap targeting quantum-resistant validator consensus by late 2027. Developer Near One describes the change as one of the most fundamental protocol upgrades since mainnet launched, though the team notes timelines are directional and subject to research outcomes.

The roadmap follows a concrete first step. NEAR Protocol's quantum-safe signing went live on July 13 when v2.13.0 activated ML-DSA-65, deploying a NIST-approved post-quantum digital signature on mainnet. NEAR became, per the team, one of the first major layer-1 blockchains to ship a NIST-approved quantum-resistant signing scheme. NEAR's account model is suited for this transition because accounts use human-readable IDs with rotatable access keys, meaning any user can upgrade to quantum-safe keys via a simple key rotation transaction without creating a new account.

ML-DSA, also known as the Module-Lattice-Based Digital Signature Algorithm, is the post-quantum digital signature standard published by NIST in FIPS 204 in August 2024, based on the CRYSTALS-Dilithium algorithm. It is designed to replace RSA and ECDSA signatures as the industry migrates away from classical cryptography.

Consensus and cross-chain MPC remain the harder problems

Despite progress at the account level, Near One is candid about what remains. Today's post-quantum schemes are still too computationally heavy for use in validator consensus, which is why the 2027 goal exists as a research and engineering target rather than a committed release date. The team has also acknowledged that quantum-safe threshold signing for its MPC network has no candidate solution yet.

The cross-chain layer adds further complexity. The Defuse team, which operates the NEAR Intents cross-chain swap infrastructure, is separately working to bring quantum-safe Chain Signatures to all Intents users regardless of which chain they originate from. NEAR's Chain Signatures network currently links assets across 30+ chains, per the team's own roadmap post. On wallet support, Near One is collaborating with Ledger and other hardware wallet builders to support the larger key and signature sizes required by post-quantum schemes.

NEAR is not alone in this effort. The Ethereum Foundation formed a dedicated Post-Quantum Security team in January 2026. Ethereum, XRP Ledger, and Solana have each moved beyond research into testnet implementations with specific timelines and NIST-approved algorithms, according to Crypto Times.

Sources:
NEAR Protocol Brings Quantum-Safe Signing to Mainnet (PR Newswire)
NEAR Protocol Becomes First Major Blockchain With Live Quantum-Safe Account Signing (TechTimes)
Ethereum Post-Quantum Roadmap (ethereum.org)