The Crypto Company has opened the private beta of its Frame testnet, advancing plans for a Layer 1 blockchain built to deliver cross-chain interoperability while guarding against potential security threats posed by future quantum computers.

The company announced the testnet launch on Sept. 30, 2026, noting that Frame had already processed more than 7 million quantum-resistant test transactions. The Crypto Company trades over the counter under the ticker symbol CRCW.

Frame Targets Cross-Chain Settlement

The project is premised on the idea that today's blockchain networks function as separate economies. Transferring assets between chains typically requires bridges, developers must choose which network to build on, and traders often encounter liquidity split across multiple ecosystems.

Bridge custody has been a recurring weak point across the industry — several high-profile exploits in recent years have made designs that avoid third-party-held assets a persistent focus for infrastructure builders. Frame is designed to serve as an interoperable settlement network in which users, businesses, and AI agents can move value across blockchains without depending on a third-party bridge to hold their assets.

According to the company, a single signature can initiate the movement of value between chains, with settlement carried out by Frame validators. The network is engineered to settle transactions in under two seconds and does not use a public transaction queue — a structure the company says is intended to limit opportunities for front-running.

The launch arrives as financial institutions and other enterprises continue to explore blockchain infrastructure for payments, settlement, and other core operations. Frame is being positioned as infrastructure that could connect separate blockchain ecosystems, sparing businesses from having to operate independently on each network.

Quantum Resistance Built Into the Network

A central feature of Frame is its post-quantum security architecture. According to the company, the blockchain has been designed to be quantum-resistant from genesis rather than requiring an upgrade after deployment.

Transactions on the testnet use ML-DSA-87, the highest security level specified under NIST's FIPS 204 post-quantum digital signature standard. NIST finalized FIPS 204 in August 2024, concluding a standardization program the agency began in 2016 to prepare cryptographic infrastructure for the quantum era. The algorithm is based on CRYSTALS-Dilithium, a cryptographic system developed to withstand attacks from sufficiently capable quantum computers.

That push reflects concern often cited in the security industry — sometimes summarized as "harvest now, decrypt later" — that encrypted data captured today could be unlocked once sufficiently powerful quantum machines arrive. The Crypto Company said the approach is intended to eliminate the need for Frame wallets to undergo a migration if quantum computing eventually threatens conventional blockchain signatures. Established networks that rely on older cryptographic standards could face more complicated transitions if quantum computers become capable of breaking current digital signatures, and developers across the cryptocurrency industry have consequently begun examining post-quantum security strategies for major blockchain networks.

The company added that Frame's post-quantum architecture is meant to protect the network from the outset, potentially avoiding the wallet migrations that older blockchains could require if quantum threats become practical.

Testnet Includes Wallet and Trading Features

The private beta currently offers post-quantum transactions, Frame Wallet, Frame Names, and a decentralized exchange. These components are intended to give users and developers a chance to test the network's core infrastructure ahead of a potential public launch.

The roadmap also includes a planned mainnet, unified liquidity across chains, and development tools aimed at individuals and businesses building applications on Frame. Developers and traders can request access through a waitlist, with invitations expected to be distributed as availability expands. The project is also building a community through messaging and developer platforms.

Mainnet Timing Remains Uncertain

The Crypto Company cautioned that testnet results should not be interpreted as a guarantee of future mainnet performance. The company identified several risks, including adoption, regulatory developments, competition, financing requirements, and its ability to continue operating. It also said the mainnet may not launch according to the anticipated schedule, or may not at all. The current testnet therefore represents an evaluation phase rather than evidence of a completed production network.

Frame's next phase will focus on testing its cross-chain settlement model, post-quantum transaction system, and application infrastructure as The Crypto Company works toward a potential mainnet launch.

The Crypto Company, which has operated since 2017, said it is continuing development of Frame as a Layer 1 blockchain intended to connect fragmented blockchain ecosystems while incorporating post-quantum cryptography into its underlying architecture. Additional information about the project is available on the official Frame website at frame.community.

This article originally appeared on CoinTrust.