Ethereum Enters Quantum-Safe Era After Hegotá Fork

Ethereum's upcoming Hegotá fork is expected to be the last 'normal' upgrade for the network, according to Vitalik Buterin. The term 'normal' refers to upgrades that shift fee rules or introduce new transaction types, which a user from 2015 would still recognize.

After Hegotá, Ethereum will begin a new phase of development focused on recursive STARKs and quantum-safe signatures. This means the network's architecture will change significantly, with nodes checking proofs instead of re-executing transactions. The role of light clients will also shift, allowing them to establish data availability and computation.

The impact of these changes will be most felt in the area of signature schemes, which will need to support quantum-safe signatures or zero-knowledge proofs. This change will affect holders directly, as their wallets will need to support new signature types.