Crypto developers are actively debating when and how networks will prepare for quantum computing—a future threat to current cryptographic security. Individual holders face calls to adopt "bunker mode" to shield wallet keys from potential quantum advances. For institutional custodians, the challenge cuts dee their key management, approval, and audit systems must adapt as different blockchains implement varying quantum-resistant security standards.
Project Eleven and Quantus, a privacy-focused proof-of-work blockchain, plan to integrate quantum-resistant key management tools by Q1 2027. The integration will allow institutions to manage Quantus keys and approve transactions through existing hardware security modules, internal policies, and audit systems.
Alex Pruden, Project Eleven's co-founder and CEO, said institutions are already preparing for post-quantum transitions outside blockchain environments. That shift could hinder institutional adoption of cryptocurrency if crypto networks fall behind.
Christopher Smith, Quantus' co-founder and CEO, argued that artificial intelligence accelerates both quantum hardware and software development. He views a quantum attack as a portfolio tail risk that demands inclusion in fiduciary decisions.
Developers are working to protect Bitcoin and Ether from future computers capable of breaking current public key cryptography. The window for migration preparation—before an actual quantum attack—is now.
Project Eleven's custody platform, Strongpoint, separates the institutional control layer from the signature scheme used by the underlying blockchain. This architecture allows a custodian to maintain its approval process, hardware-based key storage, and audit trail even if the blockchain adopts different cryptography.
Pruden said Strongpoint does not replace protocol-level adoption of post-quantum cryptography. The decoupled architecture enables agile support for various protocols.
Quantus uses ML-DSA for key generation and transaction signatures. ML-DSA is a post-quantum signature standard selected by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology. Smith noted that institutions should treat a sudden quantum advance as a portfolio risk.
