# Ethereum Foundation Charts Post-Quantum Future, Announces $1M Prize

*Author: Jack Inabinet*
*Published: Jan 26, 2026*
*Source: https://www.bankless.com/read/news/ethereum-foundation-charts-post-quantum-future-announces-1m-prize*

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The Ethereum Foundation is preparing for its post-quantum future, announcing the formation of a dedicated post-quantum team and $1M bounty to harden Ethereum against the threat posed by quantum computing. 

### **What's the Scoop?**
- **New Team:** The Post Quantum (PQ) team will be led by Thomas Coratger, a cryptographic engineer at the Ethereum Foundation, who will be supported by Emile, a leading specialist in [leanVM](https://leanroadmap.org/) (the cryptographic cornerstone of EF's post-quantum strategy). The EF has also announced a $1M Poseidon Prize, which will reward cryptographers for ensuring the security of an encryption algorithm that will power leanVM.
- **PQ Progress:** Multi-client post-quantum consensus devnets are already active, coordinated across both new and established Ethereum client teams. To ensure continued progress, a new bi-weekly PQ team call will focus on user-facing PQ transitions, including precompiles, account abstraction, and future transaction aggregation.
- **Growing Concern:** Quantum is the latest trend gripping the crypto industry's attention. Earlier this month, Vitalik Buterin [posted](https://x.com/VitalikButerin/status/2010621884811845708) that Ethereum must achieve full quantum-resistance “as soon as possible,” so that the protocol’s cryptography can be trusted for a hundred years. Coinbase [formed](https://www.coinbase.com/blog/coinbase-establishes-independent-advisory-board-on-quantum-computing-and-blockchain) its own quantum advisory board last week, and post-quantum crypto startup Project Eleven was just [valued](https://www.bankless.com/read/news/post-quantum-crypto-startup-project-eleven-raises-at-120m-valuation) at $120M.
- **Impending Updates:** The EF plans to publish a comprehensive roadmap targeting a zero-downtime, zero-loss transition to post-quantum security in the coming years. 

> Today marks an inflection in the Ethereum Foundation's long-term quantum strategy.We've formed a new Post Quantum (PQ) team, led by the brilliant Thomas Coratger ([@tcoratger](https://twitter.com/tcoratger?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)). Joining him is Emile, one of the world-class talents behind leanVM. leanVM is the cryptographic…— Justin Drake (@drakefjustin) [January 23, 2026](https://twitter.com/drakefjustin/status/2014791629408784816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
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