Starknet Opens Layer 1 Research After 93.5% Poll Vote, Targets Quantum Safety by 2027

Introduction

Starknet’s latest governance poll shows a decisive community preference for exploring a transition from its current Ethereum layer‑2 (L2) model to an independent layer‑1 (L1) blockchain. While the vote is non‑binding, it signals strong interest in achieving quantum‑resistant security ahead of Ethereum’s own timeline. The Starknet Foundation and StarkWare will now form a joint working group to study the technical and economic implications of such a move.

Community Vote and Immediate Next Steps

The Snapshot poll, which ran for seven days and closed on October 22, 2026, recorded 93.52 % of the roughly 489 million STRK voting power in favor of researching an L1 transition. About 4.6 % voted against, and 1.9 % chose a neutral option requesting more information. The poll’s outcome does not commit Starknet to an L1 shift; instead, it triggers a research phase. The Foundation has invited node operators, app developers, and STRK holders to submit questions that the working group should address. Once the study is complete, detailed proposals will be posted for a subsequent community vote.

Why Quantum Safety Is Driving the Discussion

Starknet’s leadership cites post‑quantum security as a primary motivator. The network’s underlying ZK‑STARK proof system was designed with quantum resistance in mind, leveraging hash‑based constructions rather than number‑theoretic assumptions vulnerable to quantum attacks. Starknet aims to achieve full quantum‑resistant security by 2027, two years earlier than Ethereum’s target of 2029. As an L2, Starknet’s bridge and data‑availability layers remain tied to Ethereum’s upgrade path, which could delay or limit its ability to implement the necessary cryptographic changes.

The Research Roadmap

The joint working group will focus on several key areas:

1. Technical Feasibility – Assessing how Starknet’s existing architecture can be decoupled from Ethereum, including bridge redesign, data availability, and consensus mechanisms.
2. Security Guarantees – Verifying that the transition maintains or improves current security properties, especially under post‑quantum assumptions.
3. Economic Impact – Evaluating tokenomics, validator incentives, and the effect on existing dApps and users.
4. Governance Process – Defining a clear, community‑driven pathway for any future L1 migration, ensuring that STRK remains the native token and that bridges stay operational regardless of the outcome.

StarkWare CEO Eli Ben‑Sasson emphasized that any eventual path to an L1 will be presented to the community for a vote, and that no new token would be issued as part of the transition.

Practical Outlook for Stakeholders

For developers and users, the immediate implication is a period of heightened community engagement. Stakeholders are encouraged to submit technical questions and concerns to the forum, helping shape the research agenda. Existing dApps can continue operating on Starknet’s L2 while the study proceeds, and bridges to Ethereum are expected to remain functional throughout.

If the research concludes that an L1 migration is viable and beneficial, a formal proposal will be drafted and subjected to another governance vote. Until then, the poll’s result serves as a strong signal that Starknet’s community prioritizes future‑proofing the network against emerging quantum threats.

--- Starknet’s move toward an independent, quantum‑secure blockchain is still in the exploratory phase, but the overwhelming poll support underscores a community eager to stay ahead of the cryptographic curve.