The company $NEAR has begun rebuilding its security model for a future where quantum computers could bypass the signature systems used in cryptocurrencies today. According to Anton Astafiev, CTO of Near One, and Mally Anderson, a contributor to $NEAR, the work started in Q2 2026.
The initial modification integrated the ML-DSA or "Dilithium" algorithm into the protocol. Users will be able to store their assets and access them using quantum-resistant keys. This protection also extends to assets issued on other blockchains via Chain Signatures and $NEAR Intents.
The Meteor wallet already supports this solution. Ledger and other wallet developers continue to integrate it. Anton and Mally explained that the next step is to reduce costs, as post-quantum signatures require significantly more space than classic AI-based solutions.
At the same time, Near One is exploring FN-DSA or Falcon, a more compact lattice-based signature algorithm, but the implementation of these algorithms is currently on hold.
The update enables the protection of assets across more than 30 other blockchains via blockchain signatures, even before those networks make their own quantum transitions. Near One is also developing Universal Account IDs, which are planned for inclusion in the next protocol release in the fall of 2026.
The proposed design will avoid binding an account to a single signature method and allow initializing any code during a transfer. NEP-641 will extend the same structure to off-chain activities. New signature systems can be added later.
$NEAR Moves Validator Consensus Closer to Quantum Resistance as Existing Schemes Reach Hard Limits
Validator accounts can already use post-quantum keys for signing transactions and staking, but the consensus is still based on the Edison curve for block production. The validator and chunk producer keys used for consensus must also change. Near One considers this one of the largest protocol upgrades since the mainnet launch.
ML-DSA is too bulky and expensive to be considered a common practice today. Newer variants also carry greater risk as they have undergone less testing. Falcon is smaller and faster, but Near One still considers it too immature for production deployment. The team anticipates that hardware will change as the load on post-quantum systems increases.
Anton and Mally stated that a quantum-resistant consensus could have been ready by the end of 2026 only if cryptography had advanced faster. The current target is to develop a working system in about 12 months, with deployment by the end of 2027, as research in quantum-resistant cryptography continues across the industry.
Other ecosystems are choosing different paths. Ethereum is considering zero-knowledge proofs on top of post-quantum cryptography, while some blockchains are directly exploring Falcon. Near One is not currently choosing either of these paths.
Ilya Polosukhin, co-founder of $NEAR, also presented the network's roadmap for the post-quantum era. Ilya's team wants protocol developers to discuss standards.
$NEAR Rebuilds Cross-Chain Signatures While MPC and Threshold Cryptography Still Lack a Solution
Interoperability between blockchains presents another challenge, as most current blockchains primarily use ECDSA and EdDSA, making integration relatively simple.
The transition to quantum-resistant algorithms could lead to network fragmentation into many incompatible systems. $NEAR's plan is to ensure continued operation of Chain Signatures, $NEAR Intents, and OmniBridge through 2026 and 2027.
By August 2026, the Institute for Responsible Finance and asset custody provider Safeheron had used $NEAR's testnet to verify the creation and transfer of funds via quantum-resistant wallets. Updating inbound transactions from another network to $NEAR should become easier. Throughout 2027, $NEAR plans to add host features that can validate post-quantum consensus signatures accepted by other networks.
Inbound transactions are relatively simpler. For outbound transactions, $NEAR uses an MPC network to sign transactions for other blockchains using threshold signatures. This protocol currently supports ECDSA and EdDSA. In case another network chooses a different quantum-resistant format, the responsibility for generating that signature type lies with the MPC network.
Anton and Mally wrote:
"Ready-made solutions do not yet exist. Post-quantum threshold signing will eventually appear, but it's at least a year away. It will also require different blockchains to implement compatible schemes. For example, if Bitcoin and Ethereum decide to continue using hash signatures in the post-quantum era, it will be more difficult to ensure secure and seamless data flows between blockchains."
Near One states that protocol development teams need joint technical work to ensure security and cross-network activity during the transition period. Publishing the roadmap is part of this coordination.
Key derivation (CKD) is the final contentious point. It also uses threshold signatures. The recovery keys for CKD are intended to be permanent, but they are currently not quantum-resistant.
This technology is rarely used, although it enables TEE request execution by agents. Near One is exploring Hermine, a private secure communication protocol. Anton and Mally stated that CKD is a critical update; however, a quantum-resistant update is not yet scheduled.
