The Starknet community has concluded a seven-day governance vote, with 93.52% of voting power supporting research into splitting from the Ethereum ecosystem. The non-binding vote attracted roughly 3,200 participants, marking the highest voter turnout in Starknet governance history.
StarkWare chose to abstain from the vote, a move intended to leave the decision on development direction entirely to the user and developer community.
The push to pursue an independent research path stems from a key technical consideration: achieving system resilience against quantum computers.
Targeting Quantum Resistance by 2027
The vote outcome grants an official mandate to StarkWare and the Starknet Foundation to form a technical working group. This working group is tasked with drafting and publishing a whitepaper by November 2026. StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson stated that work on the draft would begin before the weekend to prepare an independent, quantum-resistant (post-quantum) Layer-1 blockchain.
Ben-Sasson aims for Starknet to achieve quantum resistance by 2027, arguing that Ethereum’s 2029 target is too slow and prone to missing its schedule.
In terms of foundational technology, Starknet already utilizes hash-based STARK cryptographic proofs and programmable accounts with post-quantum signature capabilities. However, full system independence has not yet materialized because its bridge infrastructure and data availability (DA) remain tied to Ethereum’s upgrade schedule.
STRK Token Fate and the Binding Vote Requirement
The planned architectural shift toward an independent Layer-1 will not affect users’ assets. The STRK token will remain the network’s native token, with no plans to issue a new token. In addition, the bridge connecting to Ethereum will remain open to maintain asset mobility for users.
Importantly, the decision to separate is not yet final. The vote that just concluded was non-binding, meaning the community mandate is currently limited to authorizing technical research. An actual transition to officially split into an independent Layer-1 will still require a subsequent binding governance vote.
For STRK holders and developers, clarity on the network’s future now rests on the upcoming November 2026 draft whitepaper, before the community makes its final decision through a binding vote.
Reported by Cointelegraph.
Also read: How Crypto Staking Works and Its Risks
Also read: Bitmine Adds 12,535 ETH Amid Market Pressure - Now Controls 4.9% of Global Ethereum Supply
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
