Starknet weighs L1 move for quantum security as STRK rises 20%

Starknet said it is actively considering becoming an independent layer 1 blockchain, a move that could let it set its own security upgrade schedule as it prepares for quantum computing; STRK rose about 20% in 24 hours after the announcement. The proposal would change how Starknet relies on Ethereum for security, but the team has not announced a final decision or transition plan.

According to Decrypt’s report, Starknet made the statement on X on October 8 and named 2027 as its target to become the first fully quantum-resistant network. The token traded near $0.073 on Friday, October 9. That was a market move after the announcement, not evidence that the proposed change has been approved.

How does Starknet use Ethereum today?

Starknet currently operates as an Ethereum layer 2, or rollup. It executes transactions on its own network, groups them into batches and generates a STARK proof attesting that the resulting state change is valid. Ethereum’s Starknet contracts verify that proof. In effect, the proof is a receipt Ethereum can check: it lets Starknet process activity separately while using Ethereum to verify updates and anchor settlement.

Starknet’s published roadmap describes this arrangement: each state update requires a valid proof, and transactions settle on Ethereum through proof verification. That connection is also a dependency. StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson said Starknet can only be as quantum-safe as its base layer while it remains an L2.

What would becoming an L1 change?

As an L1, Starknet would operate as a base chain and take responsibility for securing its own transactions, rather than relying on Ethereum for that role. It would also gain direct control over its security upgrades. Ben-Sasson said the aim is to avoid waiting for Ethereum to change its cryptographic infrastructure if the quantum threat advances sooner than expected.

The security concern involves the cryptography behind digital signatures, which prove control of crypto assets. Decrypt reported that Starknet’s proofs rely on hash functions considered resistant to quantum attacks, but some elliptic-curve components remain and would need replacing. The proposal ties the possible L1 shift to Starknet’s stated goal of completing that work by 2027.

Has Starknet committed to leaving Ethereum?

No. “Actively considering” describes an option under discussion, not a confirmed migration. The announcement did not explain how existing applications, users or assets would move, or how a standalone Starknet would operate and secure itself. Those are material questions because the change would remove Ethereum’s role in verifying Starknet’s updates and put that security responsibility on Starknet’s own network.

For now, the confirmed development is a strategic review tied to a 2027 quantum-resistance target. The price jump followed the statement, while the technical and governance steps required for an L1 transition remain unspecified.

Sources

• Decrypt’s report — decrypt.co
• published roadmap — starknet.io