The software industry is accelerating its transition to post-quantum cryptography (PQC). The two most used languages for Ethereum development, Rust and Go, have integrated algorithms that are resistant to quantum attacks. Although they are not the only ones, as Java, C, and C++ (used by Bitcoin) have already made similar changes.
The standard libraries of both languages already contain implementations of algorithms such as ML-KEM and ML-DSA. these tools Enabling communication encryption using post-quantum algorithms without sacrificing network performance.
Peter Sillage, lead developer of Geth, Ethereum’s main node client, recently highlighted the advancements in the technology. Szilágyi shared a tweet detailing various languages and frameworks with post-quantum support. For developers, there is “no more excuse not to use post-quantum cryptography”
Geth is software developed in Go. This language remains a fundamental part of Ethereum nodes. Include native support in your crypto library Simplify security deployment. This could allow companies to start developing post-quantum protection solutions.
Rust integrated as Ethereum engine
Rust is integrated within the Ethereum architecture for security. Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin himself proposed moving the EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) to RISC-V, a zero-knowledge proof (ZK) friendly virtual machine that uses the Rust base language.
The relevance of this language is: 20% of developers in the ecosystem are already using this language. One of the clients in the ecosystem, Lighthouse, is developed in Rust.
Increased adoption of Rust makes it easier for networks to adapt to new threats. As reported by CriptoNoticias, post-quantum protection is already in the works, as is the case with Optimism, the second layer of Ethereum. Optimism recently released Kona-node, a high-performance rollup node built entirely in Rust.
The urgency of these changes corresponds to the potential risks of other protocols. One example is that 33% of Bitcoin currently stored is quantum vulnerable, according to a report by CriptoNoticias. These coins are stored at an old address that exposes the user’s public key. Moving to a new language standard reduces similar risks.
The future of security in the quantum age
Updating your programming language is the first step in your defense. Rust and Go provide the foundation you need to build resilient networks. Programmers are now responsible for implementing these features into the system. The cryptocurrency ecosystem is evolving to survive in the era of quantum computing.