The Ethereum Foundation is moving away from the Poseidon hash function in its planned post-quantum architecture, according to Ethereum researcher Justin Drake. The shift follows advances in SNARK technology that have reduced Poseidon’s previous performance advantage, allowing established hash functions such as SHA and BLAKE to become viable alternatives. The foundation is targeting a production-ready version of leanVM in 2027, followed by potential deployment across Ethereum’s consensus, data and execution layers in 2028, although the timeline remains preliminary.
Ethereum Reconsiders Poseidon
The Ethereum Foundation is changing part of its planned approach to post-quantum infrastructure by moving away from the Poseidon hash function.
Ethereum researcher Justin Drake said Thursday that the foundation was abandoning Poseidon in favor of established alternatives such as SHA or BLAKE.
Hash functions convert data into fixed digital fingerprints that allow computers to verify whether information has been altered.
Poseidon had previously been considered for future Ethereum post-quantum systems, including leanVM, which is designed to help the network efficiently verify large amounts of blockchain activity.
These systems have not yet been deployed on Ethereum’s mainnet.
SNARK Advances Change the Equation
Drake attributed the shift to advances in SNARKs, compact cryptographic proofs that allow computations to be verified without repeating the underlying work.
Poseidon had been attractive partly because of its performance characteristics in zero-knowledge proof systems.
However, improvements in SNARK technology have reduced that performance advantage, according to Drake.
As a result, conventional hash functions such as SHA and BLAKE can now provide sufficient performance for the planned architecture while relying on technologies that have already undergone extensive scrutiny.
The change could simplify the foundation’s post-quantum approach while maintaining compatibility with established cryptographic infrastructure.
leanVM Targeted for 2027
Ethereum’s planned leanVM system is expected to play a role in the network’s longer-term post-quantum architecture.
Drake said a production-ready leanVM is targeted for 2027.
Potential deployments across Ethereum’s consensus, data and execution layers are targeted for 2028.
The dates remain preliminary and do not represent confirmed mainnet deployment schedules.
The architecture is intended to improve Ethereum’s ability to verify large quantities of blockchain computation efficiently as the network develops its long-term scaling and security infrastructure.
Established Hash Functions Gain Preference
The move toward SHA and BLAKE could also reflect a broader preference for cryptographic primitives with long histories of analysis.
Eigen Labs founder and CEO Sreeram Kannan said established hash-based systems have fewer known attack avenues than some alternative post-quantum approaches.
He also argued that these systems could be deployed more quickly because they have already undergone years of security scrutiny.
This could become increasingly important as blockchain networks prepare for potential advances in quantum computing and seek cryptographic systems that can withstand future threats.
Zero-Knowledge Research Accelerates
The shift is also connected to continuing improvements in zero-knowledge proof technology.
Kannan said joint research involving Eigen Labs, the Ethereum Foundation and zero-knowledge proof company Succinct had increased proving speeds by 2.5 times.
Faster proving can reduce the computational cost associated with verifying blockchain activity and potentially make different cryptographic approaches more practical for large-scale production systems.
The improvements also help explain why Ethereum can reconsider earlier design decisions as proof technology advances.
Ethereum’s Post-Quantum Strategy Evolves
The decision to move away from Poseidon does not represent a change in Ethereum’s broader objective of preparing its infrastructure for future cryptographic threats.
Instead, it demonstrates how the foundation’s approach continues to evolve as cryptographic research and proof technology improve.
Using established hash functions could provide Ethereum with a more mature security foundation while reducing dependence on specialized cryptographic components whose earlier performance advantages have diminished.
The planned architecture remains under development, and the proposed 2027 and 2028 milestones could change as research and testing continue.
Closing Insights
Ethereum’s decision to move away from Poseidon highlights how rapidly advances in zero-knowledge technology can reshape blockchain infrastructure decisions. Improvements in SNARK performance have reduced the need for Poseidon’s previous advantages, allowing established hash functions such as SHA and BLAKE to become more attractive for Ethereum’s planned post-quantum systems. With leanVM targeted for production in 2027 and broader infrastructure deployments tentatively targeted for 2028, Ethereum is continuing to build its long-term security architecture around technologies that combine performance with established cryptographic scrutiny.
Comparison, examination, and analysis between investment houses
Leave your details, and an expert from our team will get back to you as soon as possible
