XRP Ledger Foundation Proposes Quantum-Resistant Security Upgrade

Highlights:

• The XRP Ledger Foundation outlines quantum-resistant signatures to protect accounts and validators from future quantum computing threats.
• ML-DSA-44 signatures could add roughly 3.6 KB per transaction, while existing base fees would initially remain unchanged.
• Research is planned for early 2027, with development and audits expected in late 2027 or 2028.

The XRP Ledger Foundation has proposed a new upgrade to protect the network from future quantum computing attacks. It would let XRP Ledger (XRPL) users replace their existing signing keys with more secure ones based on the ML-DSA-44 algorithm. The change would improve protection against future threats but also increase transaction sizes and storage requirements.

In its 2027 protocol roadmap, updated on November 4, the Foundation shared plans to introduce the new system. It will first study how existing accounts can switch to quantum-resistant keys before moving ahead with development and testing.

JUST IN: $XRP Ledger unveils quantum-resistant account plan, allowing users to upgrade to quantum-proof security with no additional transaction fees as Ripple targets full quantum protection by 2028. pic.twitter.com/wS2Mk46nG8

— Whale Insider (@WhaleInsider) November 10, 2026

XRP Ledger Plans New Security Measures Against Quantum Threats

The upgrade would let XRP Ledger accounts and validators use ML-DSA-44 signatures instead of the current secp256k1 and Ed25519 methods. Both remain secure today, but powerful quantum computers could eventually break them.

Under the proposal, users could add new quantum-resistant keys to their existing accounts and disable their original master keys. This would help protect their funds from attacks targeting older security methods. Exchanges, custodians, and institutions holding large amounts of XRP could particularly benefit from the change.

The Foundation stressed that quantum computers do not currently pose a practical threat to XRPL’s security. The plan is to strengthen the network before such attacks become possible.

Quantum-Resistant Signatures Could Triple Transaction Size

The new signatures would offer stronger protection against future quantum attacks, but they would require more storage space. According to the Foundation’s technical study, ML-DSA-44 would add approximately 3,627 bytes of data to a signed transaction. As a result, the estimated transaction size would increase from 1,704 bytes to 5,331 bytes, making it around 3.13 times larger than an ordinary XRP payment.

The current proposal does not change the network’s base transaction fee. However, the Foundation warned that larger signatures could increase bandwidth use, transaction history storage, and the resources needed to process network activity. It also suggested reviewing whether larger transactions should eventually carry additional fees.

Ripple Targets Broader Quantum Security Transition by 2028

The XRP Ledger Foundation plans to conduct a post-quantum migration study during the first half of 2027. Development, code reviews, and security audits would follow in late 2027 or 2028. Meanwhile, Ripple has been working on its own preparations for quantum-resistant security.

Ripple had announced this in April, stating that the company would have a roadmap that would take it through four stages to complete the transition to post-quantum signatures by 2028. The company is also collaborating with Project Eleven on a hybrid signing technology, validator testing and a potential custody wallet that is quantum-resistant. The two initiatives have the same goal of making the XRP Ledger more secure. But the upgrade would be done at the network level and would still need to be developed, tested, and approved via the XRPL amendment process.

Meanwhile, other blockchain companies are also working on quantum-resistant security. In a November 5 update, Bitcoin infrastructure company Blockstream said its researchers had developed a draft proposal called SHRINCS to protect Bitcoin transactions against future quantum attacks.

On September 29, Ripple’s security partner Project Eleven separately purchased Riva Labs, which will work on quantum-resistant signatures, wallets, and blockchain security. The purchase of the additional technical expertise expanded Project Eleven’s research.