The XRPL Foundation has outlined a roadmap to upgrade the entire XRP Ledger network to the ML-DSA-44 post-quantum digital signature standard by 2028, according to AMBCrypto. The announcement comes as XRP faces significant price pressure near the $1 support level, with bearish on-chain signals clashing with the network’s long-term security plans.
Quantum Resistance Roadmap
The proposed upgrade aims to transition XRPL accounts from traditional cryptographic signatures to a system designed to withstand potential attacks from future quantum computers. Under the plan, account owners will be able to add a post-quantum public key to their accounts and subsequently deactivate their current signing keys. ML-DSA-44 is identified as a NIST-approved post-quantum digital signature standard.
Ripple is pushing the XRPL network toward this more future-ready security model as quantum computing threats become a greater concern. The Foundation’s move is intended to bolster the network’s long-term security posture, potentially influencing investors’ long-term risk-reward assessments of the asset.
ETF Outflows and Market Sentiment
Despite the long-term security improvements, the current market environment is characterized by significant fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD). XRP is not immune to the broader sell-off, with the $1 support level described as extremely vulnerable. The market is currently divided on the asset’s direction, with some investors viewing a potential drop to $0.80 as a lifetime opportunity to buy the dip, while others adhere to a bearish “XRP to zero” narrative.
Data from SoSoValue indicates that Spot XRP ETFs recorded their largest single-day net outflows of the year on November 9. Over $10 million was withdrawn from the funds on that day, marking the highest daily outflow since March 9, when withdrawals topped $18 million. These figures suggest increasing selling pressure and weaker institutional demand for XRP.
Near-Term Risk Assessment
The combination of weakening sentiment, weak technicals, and sustained ETF outflows is shifting the balance in favor of bears in the short term. Consequently, the XRPL quantum-resistance upgrade is considered less likely to improve XRP’s near-term risk-reward setup. While the long-term security enhancements provide a foundation for future growth, the immediate downside risk remains significant due to the current market conditions and institutional selling.
