Ethereum Foundation Drops Poseidon From Post-Quantum Plan
The Ethereum Foundation is moving away from the Poseidon hash function in its planned post-quantum architecture, citing advances in compact proofs that have erased Poseidon's previous performance advantage.
Intelligence analysis by Llama
The Ethereum Foundation is abandoning Poseidon in favor of established alternatives like SHA or BLAKE, due to recent advancements in compact proofs that have made conventional hashes efficient enough to replace Poseidon.
Imagine you have a big box of toys, and you want to make sure that nobody has taken any toys out or added any new ones. A hash function is like a special key that helps you check if the toys in the box are still the same. The Ethereum Foundation is using a different key, called SHA or BLAKE, because it's more efficient and secure.
Analysis
Poseidon's Demise: A Shift in Ethereum's Post-Quantum Plan
The Ethereum Foundation's decision to drop Poseidon from its post-quantum plan marks a significant shift in the network's architecture. According to researcher Justin Drake, advances in compact proofs have erased Poseidon's previous performance advantage, making conventional hashes efficient enough to replace it.
This change is not without its implications. The Ethereum Foundation is turning to established alternatives like SHA or BLAKE, which have undergone years of scrutiny and have fewer known avenues of attack than other post-quantum approaches. Joint work with zero-knowledge proof company Succinct has increased proving speeds by 2.5 times, further solidifying the decision to abandon Poseidon.
The impact of this change will be felt across Ethereum's consensus, data, and execution layers. A production-ready leanVM is targeted for 2027, followed by deployments across the network in 2028. The dates remain preliminary, but one thing is clear: the Ethereum Foundation is committed to ensuring the security and efficiency of its post-quantum systems.
A New Era for Ethereum's Post-Quantum Architecture
The Ethereum Foundation's decision to drop Poseidon marks a new era for the network's post-quantum architecture. With established alternatives like SHA or BLAKE, the foundation is taking a cautious approach to ensure the security and efficiency of its future systems.
The shift away from Poseidon is a testament to the power of innovation and collaboration. By working together with companies like Succinct, the Ethereum Foundation is pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the world of post-quantum cryptography.
A Bright Future for Ethereum's Post-Quantum Systems
The future of Ethereum's post-quantum systems looks bright. With a production-ready leanVM targeted for 2027 and deployments across the network in 2028, the Ethereum Foundation is committed to ensuring the security and efficiency of its future systems.
The decision to drop Poseidon is a significant step forward for the network, and it will be interesting to see how this change impacts the development of Ethereum's post-quantum systems in the years to come.
Key points
- The Ethereum Foundation is dropping Poseidon from its post-quantum plan due to advances in compact proofs.
- The foundation is turning to established alternatives like SHA or BLAKE, which have undergone years of scrutiny.
- Joint work with zero-knowledge proof company Succinct has increased proving speeds by 2.5 times.
- A production-ready leanVM is targeted for 2027, followed by deployments across the network in 2028.
The Ethereum Foundation's decision to drop Poseidon could lead to faster and more secure post-quantum systems, which would be a significant improvement for the network. Additionally, the collaboration between the foundation and companies like Succinct could lead to further innovations in the field of post-quantum cryptography.
The shift away from Poseidon could also lead to security risks if the new hash functions are not properly implemented or if there are any unforeseen vulnerabilities. Additionally, the timeline for the deployment of leanVM and other post-quantum systems is still preliminary, and any delays could impact the overall development of the network.
