Ripple plans post-quantum upgrade for XRP Ledger by 2028

Ripple will design, build and propose a formal amendment to the XRP Ledger to add native post-quantum cryptography, targeting completion in 2028. The company plans active testing and a hybrid rollout that runs alongside current cryptographic systems starting in the first half of 2026. The roadmap includes a contingency called “Quantum-Day” to enable emergency migration to quantum-safe accounts if needed.

The plan calls for developing and testing quantum-resistant signature schemes, running those schemes in parallel with existing methods during the transition, and preserving current ledger operations while validators and wallets upgrade. RippleX engineers will lead the protocol work and proposal for the XRPL amendment.

The timetable responds to recent quantum research estimating that a machine with roughly 500,000 physical qubits could solve the elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem used by common blockchain keys and derive a private key from an exposed public key in about nine minutes. That estimate is lower than earlier projections and has prompted industry planning for a possible future threat.

More than 6.9 million bitcoins are held in wallets where public keys have been revealed on-chain; those addresses would be exposed if a quantum computer ever reached the required capability. Developers on other networks are also preparing technical responses to reduce similar risks.

XRPL already supports native key rotation, which lets users move assets away from exposed keys without creating new accounts. Ripple highlights that feature as a migration advantage compared with systems where users would need to transfer funds to new addresses to secure holdings.

Ripple is working with Project Eleven to accelerate validator testing and early custody prototypes for post-quantum cryptography. The collaboration will help validators and custody providers evaluate signature schemes and migration workflows before a wider rollout.

Market reaction to the announcement was muted. XRP traded up less than 1% on the day, at about $1.43, after a weekly gain of more than 7% amid a broader market recovery.