Cardano has moved two proposals, CIP-0197 and CPS-0034, into formal community review, according to an update issued on August 23.

CIP-0197, a Cardano Improvement Proposal, centers on a potential defense against future quantum-computing threats to Cardano wallets. Under the proposal, ADA holders would be able to prove ownership of their funds using a zero-knowledge (ZK) proof derived from their wallet seed, rather than exposing their public key.

The Cardano Improvement Proposals (CIP) process is where the ecosystem's vision gets tested and built. Robert Phair's ( @COSDpool ) latest snapshot shows new ideas entering review, active proposals undergoing rigorous community debate, and finalized CIPs, ready to be adopted.🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/9r4AzAd1SS — Cardano Community (@Cardano) August 23, 2026

Proposal Targets Public-Key Exposure

Cardano currently uses Ed25519 signatures. When a wallet spends funds, its public key can become visible on-chain. A sufficiently powerful quantum computer could theoretically use Shor's algorithm to derive a private key from exposed public-key information, potentially compromising funds protected by conventional public-key cryptography.

CIP-0197 proposes an alternative authentication mechanism based on zero-knowledge proofs. The objective is to allow users to demonstrate control of their wallet without revealing the underlying secret information and without requiring existing ADA addresses to be replaced. That matters because wallet design choices today can shape how much exposure remains if quantum-capable systems eventually become practical, even though that risk is not immediate.

The proposal remains under review and has not been implemented. Its security benefits would depend on the final design, implementation, and cryptographic assumptions adopted by Cardano. The move comes as blockchain networks increasingly examine post-quantum security well before quantum computers are capable of posing a practical threat to current cryptographic systems.

Second Proposal Addresses Plutus Core Consistency

The second proposal, CPS-0034 — a Cardano Problem Statement — addresses a separate technical issue. It aims to improve consistency in Plutus Core behavior across Cardano's different node implementations, potentially reducing discrepancies that could affect smart-contract developers and applications. Unlike CIP-0197, CPS-0034 is not primarily a post-quantum security proposal.

Cardano is also researching quantum-resistant approaches at the protocol level. Another proposal, CPS-0030, examines quantum-secure settlement, forming part of the project's broader research into how the network could respond to advances in quantum computing.

For now, the proposals remain in the community-review process. Their inclusion does not mean Cardano has adopted the proposed changes, and there is no announced timetable for implementation or inclusion in a future hard fork. For developers and wallet users, the review phase is the main checkpoint where technical trade-offs are examined before any change can move toward adoption.

Why This Matters

More consistent behavior across Cardano's network can help ensure that smart contracts work the same way regardless of which node processes them, reducing the risk of unexpected errors or disputes. At the same time, Cardano is developing ways to protect the network from quantum computers before they become powerful enough to break current blockchain cryptography.