In a proposal reported by ChainCatcher on November 12, 2026, at 11:07 a.m. UTC+8, Ethlabs set out a target for Ethereum to become resistant to quantum-computing and AI-related risks by 2027. It calls the plan “pqai27.” This is a proposal for discussion, not an agreed network upgrade.
Ethlabs argues that advances in quantum computing and AI-assisted software vulnerability discovery make it important to strengthen Ethereum’s underlying protocol in advance. It points to a U.S. government quantum-risk target moved from 2035 to 2030 and a Google plan to achieve post-quantum capability before 2029. Ethlabs also says AI is solving many long-unsolved mathematical problems. It does not claim there is evidence that AI will necessarily break today’s cryptographic primitives; its concern is that the risk is difficult to predict.
The proposal separates the work into two stages:
- “pqai-ready” would make Ethereum’s consensus layer post-quantum and give every user a path to migrate to a post-quantum account. If existing cryptography failed sooner than expected, the network could continue operating at reduced processing capacity.
- “pqai-scaled” would support post-quantum transactions and data availability at full network capacity. Its goal is to process post-quantum transactions at the scale of ordinary transactions, including through post-quantum signature aggregation and data-availability schemes.
To pursue that timetable, Ethlabs suggests reassessing the scope of the later Hegotá hard fork. It regards Frames and related post-quantum account proposals as part of the critical path, while FOCIL’s effects on the schedule and post-quantum compatibility need further review. Developers would also need to choose between adapting the existing Gasper consensus protocol for post-quantum security and moving to decoupled consensus.
Ethlabs says it will withdraw its earlier push to include Quick Slots in Hegotá and plans to pursue that feature in 2028. It says the Glamsterdam upgrade and its scaling plans should proceed as planned. Ethereum core developers have yet to discuss and decide the proposed roadmap.