Ripple has unveiled a four-phase roadmap to make the XRP Ledger quantum-resistant by 2028, responding to fresh warnings about the threat quantum computing poses to blockchain cryptography.
Four-Phase Defense Plan
The plan, detailed in a blog post by RippleX senior engineering director Ayo Akinyele, arrives a year ahead of Google's own 2029 target for post-quantum cryptography.
Phase one establishes a "Quantum-Day" contingency, which would block classical signatures and route holders to quantum-safe accounts if cryptography breaks unexpectedly.
Phases two and three, scheduled across 2026, cover testing of algorithms recommended by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Ripple is partnering with research firm Project Eleven on validator benchmarks and a custody wallet prototype. The fourth phase proposes a native amendment to the ledger by 2028.
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Why The Timeline Matters
Akinyele pointed to a "harvest now, decrypt later" risk, where attackers collect public-key data now and wait for quantum hardware to catch up, a concern for long-term holders.
Recent Google Quantum AI research showed that around 500,000 physical qubits could derive a private key from an exposed one in nine minutes, a roughly 20-fold cut from earlier estimates.
Unlike Ethereum, XRPL supports native key rotation, letting users swap vulnerable keys without moving funds. Over 6.9 million Bitcoin sit in wallets with exposed public keys. XRP traded near $1.43 on Monday, up roughly 7% over the week amid a broader market rebound.
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