## The Future of Cryptography: Solana and Aptos Prepare for the Quantum Threat

The blockchain world is quietly engaging in a technological race, with the stakes being the security of the entire ecosystem. Solana and Aptos, two major mainstream public chains, have already realized an imminent problem—the arrival of quantum computing could dismantle all current cryptographic defenses.

### Why should we worry about quantum computing now?

It sounds like science fiction, but for blockchain developers, it is a real threat. Contemporary cryptography relies on certain mathematical problems being "difficult to solve," but once quantum computers mature, these defenses will be rendered useless. Imagine hackers using quantum computers to crack your private keys in minutes, causing your assets to vanish instantly—that's why the industry is now starting to prepare in advance.

### Solana’s Response: Partnership with Project Eleven

The Solana Foundation recently announced a collaboration with Project Eleven, a technology company focused on post-quantum security, which will help Solana assess the "quantum resistance" of its existing cryptographic systems. On social media, the Solana Foundation straightforwardly stated: "Quantum computers are not here yet, but we are already prepared to face them."

Specifically, the Solana Foundation plans to deploy post-quantum digital signatures on the test network. The core task at this stage is to verify whether these quantum-resistant transaction schemes can operate smoothly under current network conditions and whether they might cause congestion or other issues.

It’s worth noting that as early as January, Solana launched the Solana Winternitz Vault wallet feature, which uses hash-based signature systems to protect user funds—this can be seen as a trial of post-quantum cryptography. The wallet generates a new cryptographic key for each transaction, and users can choose whether to enable this feature without modifying the protocol itself.

Matt Sorg, Vice President of Technology at the Solana Foundation, stated that their goal is to ensure Solana remains protected from now on. This forward-looking attitude reflects a developing ecosystem culture—continuous innovation and reinforcement.

### Aptos Follows Suit: Democratic Upgrade Plan

Aptos is not sitting idly by. The network proposed the AIP-137 proposal, aiming to introduce the first post-quantum signature option. Unlike Solana, Aptos adopts a more transparent governance approach—requiring token holder voting approval.

According to reports, the proposal will adopt the SLH-DSA standard—a stateless, hash-based digital signature method widely recognized by researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Interestingly, Aptos Labs explicitly stated that this upgrade does not require a network-wide migration. The current Ed25519 signature scheme responsible for transaction validation will remain the primary method, while SLH-DSA will be offered as an optional account type for users prioritizing post-quantum security. This "parallel coexistence" design ensures backward compatibility and gives users the autonomy to choose.

### Industry Perspective: The Post-Quantum Cryptography Race Has Just Begun

The actions of these two major public chains are not isolated events but responses to a common challenge faced by the entire blockchain industry. As quantum computing technology advances from the distant future closer to reality, deploying post-quantum cryptographic solutions now has become a wise decision.

The core of this race is: who can protect user assets earlier and more effectively will gain an advantage in future security competitions. The explorations by Solana and Aptos provide valuable lessons for the entire ecosystem—regardless of the technical approach adopted, proactive measures are always better than passive responses.