XRP Ledger Foundation Proposes Quantum-Resistant Accounts Targeting 2027-2028
The XRP Ledger Foundation has outlined a proposed upgrade that would let accounts register NIST-approved ML-DSA-44 signing keys without raising transaction fees. The upgrade has not been implemented, and a migration study is planned for the first half of 2027.
Written by CoinArticle’s AI Newsroom · from 2 cited sources. How we work
What the Proposal Would Do
The XRP Ledger Foundation has outlined a proposed upgrade that would allow XRP Ledger accounts to register NIST-approved ML-DSA-44 quantum-resistant signing keys and deactivate their existing authentication keys. According to ZyCrypto, the feature would add protection for accounts whose public keys are already exposed on the network, and users could adopt it without changing how they store, hold or access XRP.
The concern centers on how transactions are authorized. When a wallet signs a transaction, the public key can become visible on-chain. A sufficiently capable quantum computer could, in principle, derive a private key from an exposed public key, which is the attack vector the proposal targets.
Fees and Timeline
ZyCrypto reports that the upgrade would not carry higher transaction fees for users who adopt it. NewsBTC, however, notes that the roadmap has not settled fee and transaction-handling tradeoffs, and that any final design may require them. The two accounts therefore disagree on how settled the fee question is.
On timing, ZyCrypto describes a migration study planned for the first half of 2027 and full quantum readiness targeted for 2028 under a four-phase Ripple roadmap. NewsBTC characterizes the 2027 and 2028 dates as targets subject to research, engineering and governance, which could be revised, postponed or rejected. ZyCrypto also says developers are resolving discrepancies in how the proposed system generates keys across Python, JavaScript and server implementations.
What the Upgrade Is Not
Neither source reports that quantum-resistant accounts are live, that a final migration process has been agreed, or that current XRP accounts are already quantum-safe. NewsBTC stresses that quantum computers capable of attacking conventional wallets at scale do not exist today, so the risk is a long-term design concern rather than a present threat.
NewsBTC also notes that replacing signature schemes is harder than a wallet interface change. Transaction size, verification cost, hardware and application support, and the handling of old addresses held by inactive users all need to be addressed before any switch. Neither source suggests holders need to move funds now.
Why the Roadmap Matters Now
The proposal places XRP among networks beginning to plan for post-quantum signatures. Its practical test will be whether a formal amendment is drafted, how its cryptography is reviewed and whether wallet and custody providers can support it safely. Both sources treat the document as a planning signal, not a completed change.
Why It Matters
For Traders
No near-term delivery date or guaranteed XRP price catalyst exists, so the proposal gives little reason to act within the next few days.
For Investors
Quantum readiness is becoming a stated protocol priority, and the 2027-2028 timetable will be a useful measure of execution against the roadmap.
For Builders
Teams building on XRPL should track the key-generation discrepancies and any ML-DSA-44 amendment, since signing and key-handling assumptions may change.
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