Starknet opens vote on exploring an exit from Ethereum L2 status

Ethereum layer-2 network Starknet has opened a seven-day, non-binding vote asking STRK holders whether the project should explore becoming an independent post-quantum layer-1 — reducing reliance on Ethereum's quantum-security upgrade timeline.

What holders can choose

Voting opened Thursday and closes on 22 October, Cointelegraph reported. Options are:

• Support further research
• Oppose it
• Stay neutral pending more information

A "Yes" result would only green-light more research — not authorise a hard fork or L1 launch. Further proposals and votes would still be required, and no L1 timetable has been announced.

Why quantum security is the hook

StarkWare, the team behind Starknet, argues that becoming an L1 could let the network pursue quantum-resistant security without waiting on Ethereum's schedule. Starknet still depends on Ethereum for its bridge and data availability, which StarkWare flags as remaining quantum-security dependencies.

CEO Eli Ben-Sasson told Cointelegraph that "quantum-proofing crypto is urgent" and that Starknet wants to move faster than what he described as slower progress on Ethereum and Bitcoin. Separate X posts on 8 October framed the goal as becoming "the first fully quantum-resistant network" by 2027.

In June, StarkWare published a three-phase quantum-resistance roadmap (signatures, smart-contract migration, Ethereum-dependent infrastructure). Ethereum developers formed a dedicated post-quantum team in March, aiming for initial protocol-level protections by 2029.