The company Ripple has unveiled a multi-phase strategy to prepare the XRP Ledger (XRPL) for the era of quantum computing. The network is expected to be fully prepared for new threats by 2028.
Post-quantum readiness on XRP Ledger (XRPL) is not a single upgrade. It is a fundamental architectural shift in how digital assets are secured over the long term. This transition will impact key management, validator infrastructure, and how users interact with the network.
We…
— J. Ayo Akinyele (@ja_akinyele) April 20, 2026
According to the roadmap, XRPL will transition to quantum-resistant cryptography in four phases.
Developers emphasized that while the threat is not immediate, practical steps are necessary due to accelerated research in the field. The key risk is the “harvest now, decrypt later” scenario, where attackers collect encrypted data today to decrypt it in the future using quantum computers.
The Transition Process
The plan involves two parallel approaches—gradual migration and an emergency scenario in case of Q-day (the moment classical cryptography is broken):
- emergency readiness: the network will be able to forcibly transfer users’ funds to secure format addresses if current algorithms are compromised;
- testing and integration (first half of 2026): implementation of quantum-resistant signatures alongside current transaction processing mechanisms in testnets;
- controlled transition (first half of 2026): exploration of new primitives, including zero-knowledge proofs and homomorphic encryption;
- full migration (target—2028): transition of the entire network to new standards by 2028.
“In the final stage, the task goes beyond cryptography and is more about ensuring that we do not disrupt the existing XRPL mechanisms. This will require careful work and coordination with ecosystem partners,” the developers noted.
XRPL Features
Ripple believes that XRPL has several architectural advantages for transitioning to the post-quantum era. The blockchain provides:
- support for key rotation without changing the account;
- deterministic key generation from a seed phrase;
- the ability to update cryptography at the protocol level.
These features simplify migration compared to several other platforms (such as Ethereum), where users may need to transfer assets to new addresses.
Back in March, the Ripple team announced the enhancement of XRPL security using artificial intelligence.