Sui to add quantum-resistant signatures; mainnet by Q1 2027

Sui announced plans to add two NIST-approved post-quantum signature schemes and to upgrade its mainnet by the first quarter of 2027. The upgrade will be opt-in and designed so users can adopt the new signatures without changing deposit addresses or recovery phrases.

The project intends to implement ML-DSA-65 for native accounts and SLH-DSA-SHA2-128s, a hash-based signature scheme, for smart contract vaults that store high-value assets. ML-DSA-65 is classified at Level 3 and is already used in web traffic protection.

To preserve existing recovery phrases, Sui will introduce a new derivation path and use Address Aliases to rotate authorization keys to post-quantum algorithms while leaving on-chain addresses and assets in place. The platform says users will not be required to move funds to adopt the new signatures.

Sui’s timeline calls for ML-DSA-65 accounts to appear on testnet by the end of the year, with full authentication via the new signatures on mainnet expected by Q1 2027. Quantum-safe vaults are scheduled to be available on Sui’s mainnet before year-end.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has proposed deprecating traditional public-key cryptography by 2030 and disallowing it by 2035, recommending a switch to quantum-resistant algorithms. Other firms are also preparing: Coinbase plans to adapt its CoreKMS key management system toward a post-quantum version, with partial implementation targeted by 2027.

Adeniyi Abiodun, co-founder and chief product officer at Mysten Labs, described the upgrade as convenient for users: “Quantum resistant accounts and investment vaults with no need to change addresses.” Sui added: “No forced migration, no expensive transfer of everything an account holds.”