NEAR protocol deploys ML-DSA-65 post-quantum signing in nearcore 2.13 upgrade, allowing voluntary quantum-resistant key adoption without asset migration.
Tech & Launches ·
NEAR protocol's nearcore 2.13 upgrade has introduced ML-DSA-65 post-quantum signing capabilities, according to a statement from the protocol's co-founder. Users can now adopt quantum-resistant keys on a voluntary basis without transferring holdings or triggering taxable events. The upgrade preserves backward compatibility, leaving existing key infrastructure intact and functional.
The implementation allows individual account holders to migrate their signing keys to post-quantum cryptography through a direct key rotation, circumventing the need for asset transfers or wallet withdrawals. NEAR token traded between $5.85 and $5.93 over the preceding 24 hours, up 12.8% during that period. The protocol's quantum-readiness was reportedly planned since 2018.
What remains unclear is the adoption timeline and what proportion of the NEAR user base will activate quantum-resistant keys in practice. No data has been disclosed on how many accounts have already performed the key update since the nearcore 2.13 release, nor whether other major layer-one networks are deploying comparable cryptographic upgrades in parallel.