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The Solana Foundation has announced a post-quantum signature update aimed at addressing the emerging threat posed by quantum computers to today’s blockchain cryptography. Its core developer teams have independently selected the Falcon signature scheme as the preferred option, with Solana seeking to implement quantum-proofing ahead of the timeline proposed by Google and other leading researchers.
The tool is initially available for testing through its Firedancer and Solana-sdk repositories.
Quantum computers are widely discussed as a probable theoretical threat to the cryptographic systems underpinning blockchains. The article notes that elliptic cryptography schemes such as Ed25519—used by Solana—are likely to become obsolete under quantum computing capabilities. As a result, Solana, like other digital currency systems, is looking to adopt a quantum-proofing standard.
Solana currently has two independent teams responsible for validating the Solana blockchain and its proposed upgrades. Both teams concluded that the network requires a post-quantum update using compact signatures to preserve Solana’s high transaction throughput. The article adds that both groups are actively involved in testing the proposed Falcon migration.
Falcon is described as a lattice-based digital signature algorithm that has been shortlisted by NIST alongside Dilithium and SPHINCS+.
Solana is reported to have chosen Falcon due to its advantage in supporting a large number of transactions. The article states that Falcon signatures are 690 bytes, compared with 2–4 KB for Dilithium and larger sizes for other alternatives. It also cites Firedancer testing that an optimized Falcon implementation can make the network 2–3x faster than current elliptic-curve cryptographic alternatives.
The Solana Foundation’s preference for Falcon is not presented as a final decision. The Foundation continues testing other alternatives alongside its current choice.
Solana executives are quoted as stating that no changes are required today or in the near term, and that performance impact is projected to be negligible.
The article says the wider Solana ecosystem is preparing for the quantum challenge. It notes that firms are already developing quantum-resistant tools, including Blueshift’s Winternitz Vault for Solana, which the article states was highlighted by Google as an example of proactive security.
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