Originally reported November 12, 2026, at 15:26 UTC+8.
Ethlabs has proposed moving Ethereum’s post-quantum target to 2027, ahead of the Ethereum Foundation’s previously stated December 2029 goal for full post-quantum readiness. The proposal, called pqai27, is a proposed change in priorities—not an adopted upgrade schedule.
In a post on the Ethereum Magicians forum, Ethlabs argued that AI is making the timing of quantum and other cryptographic risks harder to predict. It cited a U.S. government quantum-risk goal of 2030, moved from 2035, and Google’s stated aim to be post-quantum by 2029. Those comparisons form part of Ethlabs’ case for urgency; they do not establish when a threat to Ethereum will materialize.
Ethlabs described two different 2027 milestones. Under “pqai-ready,” consensus would be post-quantum, users would have a post-quantum route for their accounts, and the network would continue operating at scaled capacity. “pqai-scaled” would additionally mean full-capacity operation with post-quantum transactions and data availability. The distinction matters: an available account route is not the same as post-quantum operation across all transactions at full capacity.
The group also wants Ethereum to be “post-AI,” which it defines as relying on cryptography with as few assumptions as possible and hardening clients against AI-assisted bug discovery through formal verification and client diversity. These are Ethlabs’ design aims, not evidence that the proposed protections have been implemented or tested at network scale.
To prioritize pqai27, Ethlabs said upcoming hard forks, including Hegotá, should be reassessed. It said it would withdraw its quick slots proposal—which sought faster block production—from Hegotá and redirect its resources to pqai27. The source does not establish that Ethereum’s fork plans or post-quantum timeline have been changed.
