Starknet Opens 7-Day Vote on Leaving Ethereum for Quantum-Safe Layer 1
Key Takeaways
- •Starknet has opened a community vote on a proposal to depart from Ethereum and operate as an independent, quantum-safe Layer 1 network.
- •The quantum-safety rationale stems from the hash-based design of STARK proofs, which is regarded as resistant to quantum computers, whereas Ethereum's elliptic-curve signatures are considered vulnerable to future quantum machines.
- •Moving to a standalone Layer 1 would end Starknet's current reliance on Ethereum for final settlement of its batched transaction proofs.
- •STRK rose 55.97% over the week to $0.08678 on October 16, 2026, producing a market capitalization of $644.12 million and 24-hour trading volume of $448.43 million.
- •Under Starknet's governance model, protocol changes are decided by STRK token holders, and the seven-day ballot's result will determine whether the proposed split moves forward.
Starknet has opened a seven-day community vote on a proposal to leave Ethereum and operate as a quantum-safe Layer 1 network, according to a COINOTAG report published on October 16, 2026.
Update 02:21 UTC: STRK traded at $0.08678 on October 16, up 55.97% over the week, putting its market cap at $644.12 million with $448.43 million in 24-hour volume, per CoinMarketCap.
Background on Starknet
Starknet is a Layer 2 scaling network built on Ethereum by technology firm StarkWare. It uses STARK proofs, a form of zero-knowledge cryptography, to batch and verify large volumes of transaction activity before posting the results back to Ethereum. The network's native token, STRK, is used to pay transaction fees and gives holders a voice in governance decisions affecting the protocol.
The Quantum-Safety Question
STARK proofs rely on hash functions, a class of cryptography widely regarded as resistant to attacks from sufficiently powerful quantum computers. By contrast, the elliptic-curve digital signatures currently used to secure Ethereum accounts are considered vulnerable to future quantum machines. Moving away from Ethereum settlement toward an independent, quantum-safe Layer 1 would therefore mark a significant change to Starknet's existing architecture.
The architectural stakes are what make the proposal notable. As a Layer 2, Starknet currently depends on Ethereum for settlement, sending its batched proof results there for final verification; an independent Layer 1 would shoulder that responsibility on its own, removing Ethereum from the settlement process the network relies on today. Because the case for the move rests on the hash-based design of STARK proofs, the vote also illustrates how zero-knowledge networks may weigh quantum resistance against their current dependence on Ethereum.
Governance Process
Changes to the Starknet protocol are decided through token-holder votes. The current vote will remain open for seven days, giving STRK holders a one-week window to weigh in on the proposed departure from Ethereum. Once voting closes, the outcome will determine whether Starknet moves forward with the proposed split from Ethereum.
This content was first published on COINOTAG: https://en.coinotag.com/starknet-7-day-vote-leaving-ethereum-eth-quantum-safe-l1
