Ethereum is facing a push to advance its system defenses two years earlier than scheduled. Research group Ethlabs published a roadmap proposal titled ‘pqai27’ on the Ethereum Magicians forum on November 11, 2026. The proposal urges the network to accelerate post-quantum cryptographic readiness to 2027.
To redirect research focus toward quantum defense, Ethlabs decided to withdraw the Quick Slots proposal (EIP-8198). The proposal to reduce block slot times from 12 seconds to 10 seconds in the Hegotá upgrade has now been postponed until 2028.
The trade-off is clear: block speed must take a back seat as emerging threats loom over the network’s cryptographic foundations.
Why the 2029 Target Is Considered Too Slow
The Ethereum Foundation’s official roadmap currently schedules full quantum resilience for December 2029, spanning the execution, consensus, and data layers. The foundation also plans a risk review with external experts in January 2027.
However, Ethlabs considers that deadline too risky. Their warning stems from the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) models, which they believe could uncover software vulnerabilities and undermine cryptographic foundations faster than expected.
‘Being post-quantum alone is not enough, we intend to be post-AI as well,’ Ethlabs wrote in their proposal presentation.
To reinforce its argument, Ethlabs pointed to Google’s target of completing its post-quantum transition by 2029, as well as quantum risk mitigation updates issued by the United States government.
Two Phases Toward an AI-Resistant Network
The pqai27 roadmap is designed in two primary phases. The first phase is labeled ‘pqai-ready,’ focusing on implementing post-quantum cryptography across the consensus system while securing network user accounts.
Once the foundational stage is complete, the second phase, dubbed ‘pqai-scaled,’ will be activated. In this phase, quantum-resistant transaction and data processing are targeted to run fully without reducing network capacity or throughput.
This shift in priorities also affects the fate of other features in the Hegotá upgrade. Ethlabs requested that the FOCIL censorship-resistance feature only be approved if it does not compromise the 2027 quantum target. Conversely, Frame Transactions are viewed as an essential pillar for flexible account authentication. Meanwhile, the Glamsterdam hard fork schedule is confirmed to proceed as originally planned.
For the Ethereum community and users, this restructuring brings immediate consequences: the efficiency of 10-second block times will not arrive anytime soon, as researchers choose to prioritize system security before quantum computing technology and artificial intelligence models can breach it.
Reported via Cointelegraph.
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