XRP Unveils Quantum Security Plan That Could Cost $255,000
The XRP Ledger Foundation has mapped out a plan for quantum-proof accounts that would protect users from future quantum attacks without raising transaction fees.
The upgrade would protect funds even if attackers obtain powerful quantum hardware. However, the proposal still faces several technical hurdles and a long development timeline before launch. "Every time an account signs a transaction, it reveals a public key," the XRP foundation study explains.
Quantum-Proof Design
The foundation published the design in its 2027 protocol roadmap. Owners could add a quantum-resistant key based on ML-DSA-44, a scheme NIST approved in 2024. Users could then switch off their original, potentially exposed key.
Base transaction fees would stay unchanged, while validators absorb the additional storage. A quantum-resistant key and signature take up 3,732 bytes, versus 105 bytes for a regular payment.
Development Challenges
Developers still need to fix a key-generation mismatch between the Python prototype and other versions. Auditing this amendment alone could cost up to $255,000. Development and auditing could follow in late 2027 or 2028, after a migration study.
Industry Response
The XRP Ledger is not alone in preparing for Q-Day, the moment quantum computers break current cryptography. Bitcoin implemented BIP-360 in February 2026, proposing a quantum-resistant output type that remains inactive on the main chain.
The Ethereum Foundation formed a post-quantum team in January 2026, with protections phased in through 2030. Algorand has used Falcon signatures for State Proofs since 2022 and now supports Falcon-backed accounts. Solana's Blueshift launched Winternitz Vault for quantum-resistant one-time signatures.
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