Ethereum Researchers Unveil Post-Quantum Wallet Protection Scheme SPHINCS-
Ethereum researchers have proposed a new post-quantum signature verification scheme called SPHINCS-, designed to protect wallets from future quantum attacks. This proposal, published on Ethereum Research on June 12, aims to enhance wallet security without requiring changes to the existing protocol.
SPHINCS- uses KECCAK256 instead of SHAKE256 and is optimized for the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). The proposal focuses on a range between 2^14 and 2^20 signatures per key, arguing that normal Ethereum addresses do not need an unlimited signing budget. For the C13 variant, the proposal lists verification costs near 127,000 gas and a signature size of 3,704 bytes.
The researchers emphasize that SPHINCS- is built around the existing EVM, making it compatible with current wallets without requiring any protocol changes. This approach aims to mitigate potential security risks associated with quantum computers, which could weaken today's cryptographic assumptions. The proposal also notes that hardware-wallet signing remains a practical obstacle and that verification efficiency alone does not solve user experience.