Starknet’s bridge still relies on elliptic-curve cryptography, creating a potential failure point if Ethereum upgrades more slowly.
Starknet is considering becoming a standalone Layer 1 blockchain, with its builders targeting quantum-resistant security by 2027 as concerns grow about whether artificial intelligence could accelerate attacks on existing cryptography.
The move would give the network more control over its security upgrades rather than leaving parts of its migration dependent on Ethereum.
Starknet Wants Control Over Its Quantum-Security Timeline
In a post on X, Starknet announced that it was “actively considering becoming an L1,” describing the change as a route toward becoming “the first fully quantum-resistant network,” with 2027 as its target.
Starknet already uses zero-knowledge STARK proofs based on hash-based cryptography and has an active roadmap for post-quantum security. But as a Layer 2 on Ethereum, the network still relies on its parent chain for some of its security.
Two areas are still outside the direct control of its builders, including bridge messaging, which uses elliptic-curve cryptography to communicate between Starknet and Ethereum. If that dependency is removed before an Ethereum upgrade, the bridge could break.
The second concerns data availability. Starknet publishes state data to Ethereum through blobs secured by KZG commitments, which rely on cryptography vulnerable to sufficiently powerful quantum computers. A failure in KZG would affect data availability, although Starknet’s STARK proofs would continue to protect the validity of its state.
Ethereum is targeting full Layer 1 quantum resistance by the end of 2029. Starknet’s proposed 2027 timeline would therefore put it ahead of its parent network, provided it can complete the remaining work and settle the architectural questions involved in becoming an independent chain.
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The proposal follows growing concerns about advances in AI-assisted mathematics. On October 7, Ethereum researcher Justin Drake urged the blockchain industry to begin preparing for what he called “bunker mode,” recommending a controlled migration of assets to addresses whose public keys remain hidden. However, Vitalik Buterin warned against rushing the process.
Starknet co-founder Eli Ben-Sasson raised similar concerns in posts on October 8, arguing that AI could bring cryptographic threats closer than expected. He identified cryptographic choice and the ability to upgrade security systems as the two foundations of post-quantum readiness.
An Independent Starknet Would Still Face Design Choices
Starknet has already developed infrastructure that could help it operate independently, including STRK staking and multiple sequencers. However, it would still need to resolve data availability, final settlement, and changes to its official bridge.
Still, the bridge question carries particular weight, especially considering that today, Ethereum verifies Starknet withdrawal proofs before bridged funds can be released. If Starknet becomes an L1, it could continue posting STARK proofs to Ethereum, preserving a connection between the networks, or sever that dependency entirely. But those approaches would create different security assumptions for users.