Tezos Deploys Quantumnet Testnet for Quantum-Resistant Blockchain

Tezos has launched its experimental post-quantum testnet, Quantumnet. Developed by engineers from Nomadic Labs, Trilitech and other ecosystem contributors, the network brings together the core components of a quantum-computing-resistant layer 1 (L1) in one environment.

The testnet, designed for engineers, bakers and technical contributors to the protocol, supports tz5 accounts that allow transactions to be authorized through ML-DSA-44, a post-quantum signature scheme standardized by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Quantumnet also extends changes to other layers of Tezos, including replacing the Verifiable Delay Function with Smooth Weighted Round Robin, substituting BLS signatures with XMSS signatures and STARK aggregation, and replacing KZG commitments with ZODA.

No quantum computer can currently break public-key cryptography used by blockchains, but quantum error correction is advancing rapidly. Google has set 2029 as the deadline to complete its own post-quantum migration, prompting Tezos to take steps towards preparation.