Cardano Initiates Security Transition in Face of Quantum Computing Threat...Hoskinson: "Respond with a hard fork every year"

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Cardano (ADA) is officially recognizing the quantum computing threat as a long-term security challenge and is pursuing a governance-based response strategy for future network transitions.

According to The Crypto Basic on May 15 (local time), Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson stated in an interview with Gokhshtein News Network that Cardano is proactively addressing the long-term risks posed by quantum computing. Hoskinson explained that while an actual quantum computing threat has not materialized immediately, Cardano is researching quantum-resistant alternatives before the threat becomes imminent.

Hoskinson stated that the Cardano ecosystem is currently voting on a quantum strategy and plans to release a research proposal focused on quantum resistance next week. He mentioned that the plan includes multiple partners, additional technical features, and a long-term migration path, designed to allow users to move to quantum-resistant infrastructure if needed.

Hoskinson explained that Cardano could refer to Bitcoin (BTC)'s BIP-361 proposal. BIP-361 is a proposal to protect the Bitcoin network from quantum computing threats by enforcing a gradual migration from existing addresses to quantum-resistant addresses over five years. Hoskinson believed that Cardano could adopt a similar approach without significant difficulty.

"Supporting that migration path is very easy. It's just a hard fork implemented every year," he said. Hoskinson emphasized that since Cardano has regularly performed hard forks every year, it already possesses the technical foundation to coordinate a large-scale security transition.

Hoskinson stated that decentralized governance plays a key role in the face of structural threats like quantum computing. He explained that governance provides a framework for collective decision-making when blockchain ecosystems need to make critical decisions such as adjusting tokenomics, forming strategic partnerships, and responding to security threats. However, he added that governance could slow down processes for day-to-day operational decisions.

The Crypto Basic reported that several blockchain projects are recently moving from theoretical discussions to actual proposal stages in response to quantum computing threats. Ripple unveiled a four-phase roadmap last month to make the XRP Ledger resilient to quantum threats by 2028, and Bitcoin developers proposed BIP-360 and BIP-361 to migrate vulnerable Bitcoin holdings to safer addresses. Blockstream developers also proposed adopting hash-based post-quantum signature schemes like SHRIMPS and SHRINCS to enhance Bitcoin's resistance to quantum attacks.

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