Starknet holders are currently voting on whether the network should pursue independence as a Layer 1 blockchain to enhance its security against quantum computing threats. The seven-day vote, which began on Thursday, has seen overwhelming support, with 99.91% of the 177.6 million STRK votes cast in favor of the proposal. If approved, the StarkWare team will follow up with more detailed plans and additional polls. A rejection would keep Starknet on its current Layer 2 path under Ethereum.
StarkWare initially proposed the idea of becoming a Layer 1 blockchain earlier this month, citing concerns that Starknet's reliance on Ethereum could leave it vulnerable if Ethereum does not quickly adopt quantum-safe and AI-safe measures. CEO Eli Ben-Sasson emphasized the need for chains to have the right cryptography and the ability to upgrade it, suggesting that Starknet's move to Layer 1 would better prepare it for these threats.
While Starknet already uses hash-based STARK proofs and can adopt post-quantum signatures without a protocol upgrade, its bridge to Ethereum and data availability arrangements remain dependent on Ethereum's infrastructure and upgrade timeline. StarkWare noted that there is no clear timeline for Ethereum's post-quantum upgrades, but Starknet is ahead of many chains in its preparations.
The security initiative coincides with the introduction of new privacy features on Starknet. Earlier this week, StarkWare launched Shadow Accounts, a privacy primitive that allows users to maintain positions without publicly linking their activity to their main wallets.