XRP Ledger Gets a Quantum-Proof Makeover Before Computers Get Too Smart 🛡️

XRP Ledger has proposed a quantum-resistant account upgrade intended to protect cryptocurrency wallets from future computing threats, with Ripple targeting full quantum security by 2028.

The proposed system would allow XRP Ledger users to register ML-DSA-44 digital signatures and disable their existing signing keys without changing how they store or access their assets or paying higher transaction fees. XRP Ledger transactions can expose public keys when users authorize payments through their cryptocurrency wallets, and exposed keys could eventually allow accounts to be compromised using advanced quantum computers and existing cryptographic techniques.

Developers selected ML-DSA-44, a digital signature standard approved by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in 2024. The signature system requires 3,732 bytes for public keys and signatures, increasing transaction storage requirements while maintaining existing XRP fees.

Ripple and XRP Ledger developers plan to complete technical reviews, testing and security audits as part of the effort to achieve quantum security by 2028. The proposal is designed to introduce stronger account protection before quantum attacks become practical on blockchain networks.