Daniel Walker
The Ethereum Foundation has officially backed ZKNox, a newly established research organization led by three seasoned cryptographers. According to a series of announcements on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, the startup is dedicated to developing open-source cryptographic solutions aimed at boosting Ethereumโs security and efficiency, with a particular emphasis on post-quantum cryptography.
As quantum computing advances, it poses a serious risk to blockchain networks that rely on traditional cryptographic algorithms. While the timeline for quantum-powered attacks remains uncertain, experts agree that preparing for these threats is crucial.
One widely discussed post-quantum security method, the Falcon signature scheme, provides resistance against quantum-based attacks. However, its implementation on Ethereum has been costly due to inefficient cryptographic functions.
ZKNox has developed an optimized version of the Number Theoretic Transform (NTT), a key component in Falcon signatures, significantly reducing Ethereumโs transaction costs for post-quantum security.
โFull FALCON signature verification gas costs have dropped dramaticallyโfrom 24M gas down to just 2M,โ the Ethereum Foundation stated in an X thread announcing its support. โThis means post-quantum transactions are now 12 times cheaper on Ethereum!โ
ZKNoxโs Roadmap for 2025
Looking ahead, ZKNox has outlined an ambitious roadmap for 2025, focusing on:
- Further advancements in post-quantum cryptographic security
- Seamless integration of Account Abstraction with hardware wallets
- Evaluation of Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) to enhance efficiency
- Strengthening security for hardware wallet users
ZKNox was founded by three experts in cryptography and blockchain security:
- Bacca Nicolas โ Co-founder and former CTO of Ledger
- Dubois Renaud โ Former Ledger security specialist
- Masson Simon โ Experienced cryptologist
โWith deep expertise in securing critical systems, our mission is to advance secure hardware, cryptographic protocols, and blockchain-integrated security solutionsโclosely aligned with Ethereum, defensive technologies, and decentralization,โ states the ZKNox website.
As Ethereum continues evolving, ZKNoxโs research could play a vital role in protecting the network against future quantum threats, ensuring long-term security and scalability.
