Starknet's community has backed research into whether the Ethereum layer-2 network should eventually become an independent, post-quantum layer 1. A seven-day, non-binding poll closed on October 22 with 93.52% of voting power in favor, according to the Starknet Foundation's governance forum. The result gives StarkWare and the Foundation a mandate to examine the idea, but it does not approve a migration. Starknet continues to operate as an Ethereum layer 2, and any transition would require detailed proposals and another formal governance decision.

What the poll decided

The poll asked STRK holders whether the two organizations should pursue research into an independent network. Cointelegraph reported that about 3,200 votes were recorded. The Foundation said a joint working group will study technical requirements, trade-offs and consequences for users, builders and the wider ecosystem. Findings will be published to the governance forum, where community feedback will shape the work. If the research supports moving forward, detailed proposals would follow. The current result sets a research direction rather than changing Starknet's production architecture.

Related reporting: Starknet Opens Non-Binding Vote on Exploring Post-Quantum Layer 1

Why post-quantum security is central

Starknet's case rests partly on cryptographic agility. Its STARK proof system is hash-based, and programmable accounts can adopt different signature schemes without requiring the base protocol to impose one account design. However, Starknet still depends on Ethereum for settlement-related infrastructure, including its bridge and data availability. The Foundation argues that those dependencies tie the network's full quantum-security timetable to Ethereum's roadmap. An independent chain could control more of that stack directly, but research must establish whether the theoretical advantage justifies a fundamental change in the network's security model.

Independence would shift security assumptions

Leaving Ethereum's settlement layer would not simply remove a dependency. It would require Starknet to define how its own validators provide finality, censorship resistance and data availability, and how much economic security backs those guarantees. Forum participants also raised questions about validator duties, hardware requirements, slashing, bridge risk and contract continuity. Those issues are not answered by the poll. A standalone layer 1 could gain control over upgrade timing, but it would also need to replace security properties currently inherited from Ethereum and manage the operational risks of a new consensus and bridging design.

What stays unchanged for now

The governance proposal says STRK would remain the native token and no new token is planned. It also says bridges between Ethereum and Starknet would remain open regardless of the research direction. Users and developers therefore face no immediate migration step. Existing applications continue to run on the current layer-2 network. The eventual effects on liquidity, transaction finality, validator economics and application compatibility cannot be assessed until the working group publishes a concrete design.

Research comes before another vote

StarkWare and the Starknet Foundation said the research begins immediately. Cointelegraph reported that StarkWare hopes to publish a draft whitepaper for public review in November, while the Foundation said findings will be released progressively through its governance forum. Timelines, specifications and implementation plans remain open. The important distinction is that voters endorsed investigation, not departure from Ethereum. The next meaningful test will be whether the research produces a design that can demonstrate stronger long-term cryptographic resilience without weakening near-term network security or fragmenting the ecosystem.

Sources

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