Starknet (STRK) holders have overwhelmingly supported a proposal to explore transitioning the network from an Ethereum Layer 2 into an independent, post-quantum Layer 1. A seven-day Snapshot poll closed on Thursday morning, with over 93.5% of voting power backing the idea and more than 2,800 wallets participating. StarkWare, the development company behind Starknet, did not vote, leaving the decision to the community. Following the results, StarkWare and the Starknet Foundation will conduct further research, though STRK holders will need to vote again on any future proposal to execute the transition.
StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson told The Block that work on a whitepaper will begin immediately, with a draft expected for public review in November. Ben-Sasson emphasized the urgency of addressing quantum threats, noting that AI agents are accelerating the risk. He set a 2027 target for Starknet to become quantum-safe, though no date has been agreed for a potential transition to Layer 1.
The proposal centers on Starknet's reliance on Ethereum for its bridge and data availability, which cannot become quantum-safe independently of Ethereum. Ben-Sasson criticized Ethereum's 2029 target for quantum safety, stating that deadlines often slip. Starknet is built on hash-based cryptography, allowing its accounts to adopt post-quantum signatures without protocol changes, though it currently inherits security from Ethereum.
Regardless of the path chosen, STRK will remain the native token, no new token will be introduced, and Ethereum bridges to Starknet will remain open, according to the Starknet Foundation.