Ripple has announced a detailed, multi-phase roadmap with a 2028 deadline to make the XRP Ledger (XRPL) resistant to quantum computing attacks. The company stated that the quantum threat to blockchain cryptography has shifted from a theoretical concern to a credible and urgent security risk, prompting immediate action.
The urgency is driven by recent Google Quantum AI research, which indicates that future quantum computers could solve the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) cryptography used by most blockchains much sooner than previously estimated. Google's findings suggest a machine with approximately 500,000 physical qubits could derive a private key from an exposed public key in about nine minutes. This poses a direct threat to over 6.9 million Bitcoin (roughly one-third of the total supply) held in wallets where public keys are permanently exposed on-chain.
Ripple's plan involves designing, building, and proposing a new amendment to the XRPL ecosystem for native post-quantum cryptography. The roadmap is structured in four phases. Phase 1, already underway, includes emergency contingency planning for a "Quantum-Day" scenario where current cryptography is compromised prematurely. Phase 2, scheduled for the first half of 2026, will involve active testing of quantum-resistant cryptography and a hybrid rollout alongside existing systems, including risk assessments for storage and performance.
Phase 3, planned for late 2026, will see candidate post-quantum signature schemes deployed on a Devnet for developer testing. Ripple is collaborating with Project Eleven on validator testing and early custody prototypes. The final transition to a quantum-resistant mainnet is targeted for 2028.
A key advantage for XRPL is its native support for key rotation, which allows users to replace potentially vulnerable cryptographic keys without having to move assets to entirely new accounts. This feature, not natively available on blockchains like Ethereum, is expected to facilitate a smoother migration for users, wallets, and custodians. Core engineer Denis Angell has already deployed ML-DSA quantum-safe signatures on XRPL AlphaNet.
The announcement highlights a broader industry awakening to the quantum threat. While Ripple is among the first major networks with a public post-quantum timeline, the Ethereum Foundation has also formed a dedicated team, and Bitcoin developers are evaluating solutions, including a recent Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP).
