Starknet’s community has voted to support research into transitioning the network from an Ethereum layer-2 solution to an independent, post-quantum layer-1 blockchain. The non-binding governance poll, which closed on Thursday after a seven-day period, recorded approximately 3,200 votes with 93.52% of voting power in favor of exploring this departure. According to StarkWare, this outcome marks the highest participation rate in Starknet’s governance history. The company abstained from voting to defer the decision entirely to the community.
The vote authorizes StarkWare and the Starknet Foundation to proceed with technical research and whitepaper development regarding the potential migration. However, any actual shift would require a separate, binding governance vote. In the interim, Starknet will continue operating as an Ethereum layer-2 network. StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson stated that work on a whitepaper is beginning immediately, with a draft expected for public scrutiny in November. A working group has been established to examine the transition and develop detailed technical proposals.
The governance proposal confirms that STRK will remain the native token, with no new token planned, and existing bridges between Starknet and Ethereum will remain open. StarkWare first raised the possibility of this transition on Oct. 8, citing concerns about dependence on Ethereum for security. While Starknet uses hash-based STARK proofs and supports programmable accounts capable of adopting post-quantum signatures, its bridge and data availability infrastructure remain tied to Ethereum’s upgrade timeline. Ben-Sasson has set a 2027 target for making Starknet quantum-resistant, arguing that Ethereum’s projected 2029 timeline is too late.
This development signals a strategic pivot where Starknet prioritizes autonomy and specific security timelines over the traditional scaling benefits of remaining anchored to Ethereum. By seeking independence, StarkWare aims to decouple its infrastructure roadmap from Ethereum’s broader consensus upgrades, particularly regarding quantum resistance. The high community support suggests a strong alignment among stakeholders who view Ethereum’s projected 2029 quantum-safe deadline as insufficient risk mitigation for long-term asset preservation.
However, the move introduces significant operational and reputational risks. Transitioning from a layer-2 to a standalone layer-1 requires building independent validator sets, data availability layers, and security guarantees from scratch. The experimental nature of the current quantum-resistant technology, which has not yet undergone a comprehensive security audit, adds uncertainty. If the proposed 2027 timeline slips or if the new L1 fails to achieve comparable decentralization and liquidity to Ethereum, Starknet could face fragmentation and reduced utility despite its advanced cryptographic goals.
