The XRP Ledger Foundation has published a plan for quantum-proof accounts designed to protect users from future quantum attacks without increasing transaction fees, according to BeInCrypto.
The proposal, detailed in the foundation’s 2027 protocol roadmap, introduces a mechanism for account owners to add a quantum-resistant key based on the ML-DSA-44 signature scheme. NIST approved ML-DSA-44 in 2024. Once added, users could switch off their original key, which may have been exposed through previous transactions.
Technical Design and Costs
The foundation’s study explains that every time an account signs a transaction, it reveals a public key. Consequently, any account that has sent a payment remains exposed to potential quantum attacks. The proposed upgrade addresses this by allowing wallets to be secured by a signature scheme that quantum computers cannot easily break.
The implementation involves significant changes to data size. A quantum-resistant key and signature take up 3,732 bytes, compared to 105 bytes for a regular payment. To offset this increase, base transaction fees will remain unchanged. Validators will absorb the additional storage costs associated with the larger data payload.
Developers must address a key-generation mismatch between the Python prototype and other versions before the amendment can proceed. Auditing this specific amendment could cost up to $255,000. A migration study is required before development can begin.
Development Timeline
The foundation’s timeline indicates that development and auditing could follow in late 2027 or 2028. This schedule depends on the completion of the necessary migration study and the resolution of the technical hurdles identified in the prototype phase.
The proposal faces a long development path before launch. The foundation has not yet confirmed a specific date for the migration study or the start of the auditing process.
Other Network Preparations
Other major blockchain networks are also preparing for the potential threat of quantum computing. Bitcoin’s BIP-360, which proposes a quantum-resistant output type, was merged in February 2026 but remains inactive on the main chain.
The Ethereum Foundation formed a post-quantum team in January 2026. Its roadmap phases in protections through 2030. Algorand has used Falcon signatures for State Proofs since 2022 and now supports Falcon-backed accounts. On the Solana network, Blueshift launched Winternitz Vault, which stores funds using quantum-resistant one-time signatures.
Most of these efforts across different networks remain roadmaps rather than live, network-wide protections. The XRP Ledger Foundation’s plan is part of a broader industry movement to address the security implications of future quantum hardware.
