Ethereum Ditches Poseidon for Traditional Hash Functions in Quantum-Resistant Design
The Ethereum Foundation has revised its strategy for next-generation architecture designed to defend against quantum computer attacks. They've excluded the Poseidon hash function in favor of traditional hash functions like SHA and BLAKE, which have been validated for decades.
The decision was made by Ethereum Foundation researcher Justin Drake, who announced that the foundation will adopt conventional hash functions instead of Poseidon due to rapid technological advances in SNARK zero-knowledge proof systems. This has enabled conventional hash functions to achieve processing efficiency comparable to Poseidon.
Poseidon was originally designed as a dedicated hash function to boost the performance of zero-knowledge proof systems, but its short validation period makes it risky for application in long-term quantum-resistant infrastructure. The Ethereum Foundation collaborated with academic and industry partners, including Eigen Labs, to reach this decision.