Starknet opened a seven-day governance vote for STRK holders Thursday, Oct. 15, to consider exploring a transition to an independent layer-1 blockchain. The move aims to establish a post-quantum security framework and remove Starknet's dependency on Ethereum's upgrade schedule for quantum resistance.
The non-binding poll closes Oct. 22. STRK holders can vote to support further research, oppose the exploration, or abstain. A "Yes" vote signals support for additional research into L1 transition feasibility—it does not authorize an immediate shift. Any actual migration would require subsequent proposals and further governance votes. Starknet has not announced a specific timetable for becoming a standalone L1 beyond the 2027 quantum-resistance target.
StarkWare, the developer behind Starknet, identified Ethereum's bridge and data availability layers as quantum-security dependencies. CEO Eli Ben-Sasson said: "Quantum-proofing crypto is urgent, so we must move at lightning speed." Ben-Sasson and Starknet hinted at this strategic shift Oct. 8, with the stated objective of becoming "the first fully quantum-resistant network" by 2027.
In June, StarkWare unveiled a three-phase roadmap covering signature upgrades, smart contract migration, and hardening of Ethereum-dependent infrastructure.
Ethereum developers established a dedicated post-quantum team in March and are working toward introducing initial protocol-level protections by 2029. Starknet's proposed 2027 timeline represents a two-year lead.
