The Aptos blockchain has unveiled a groundbreaking governance proposal, Aptos Improvement Proposal 137 (AIP-137), to integrate quantum-resistant signature technology as an optional security upgrade for user accounts. The proposal seeks to implement SLH-DSA (Stateless Hash-Based Digital Signature Algorithm), a hash-based scheme standardized by the U.S. government as FIPS 205. This move is a proactive defense against the potential future threat of Cryptographically Relevant Quantum Computers (CRQCs), which could theoretically break the Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) widely used by current blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
The initiative, detailed on December 18, 2025, positions Aptos as one of the earliest major Layer 1 proof-of-stake blockchains to formally propose native support for post-quantum cryptography. The upgrade would be optional and opt-in, allowing developers and users to adopt the new signature type selectively without forcing a disruptive network-wide change. Aptos Labs emphasized that quantum computing is "not a distant spectre anymore," citing early scaling discussions by IBM and regulatory momentum from standards published by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
The implementation is not without challenges, as quantum-resistant signatures can be larger and more computationally intensive, potentially impacting transaction throughput and costs. The Aptos team will need to optimize performance to maintain network scalability. The proposal has broader industry implications, potentially triggering a domino effect and prompting other networks like Solana—which recently tested quantum-resistant transactions on a testnet—to accelerate their own post-quantum roadmaps. Within the Bitcoin community, proposals like BIP-360 are also being debated, though some figures like Adam Back have dismissed near-term quantum concerns as FUD.
