# Starknet Says Account Design Can Ease a Shift to Post-Quantum Signatures By Simon Yoon Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/44916 Published: 2026-10-30T16:57:39.000Z Updated: 2026-10-30T16:57:39.000Z Section: Technology > Users could change signature checks while keeping account addresses, balances and transaction histories. A separate layer 1 remains under research. Starknet says users could switch to post-quantum signatures without changing account addresses, balances or transaction histories, a design that may simplify account-level cryptographic upgrades on its network. The account model lets users replace the logic that checks signatures without changing the protocol. Starknet has also held a [Falcon-512 verification challenge]() focused on reducing the cost of checking a post-quantum signature. Starknet’s layer 2 continues to depend on Ethereum and elliptic-curve cryptography for settlement, data publication and cross-chain bridges. Research into an independent layer 1 could give Starknet control over its cryptographic choices and migration schedule, but the work remains exploratory. Any decision to move to layer 1 would require a binding governance vote. Starknet’s native token, STRK, remains in use, and the network has no plan to issue a new token. ## Links in this article - [Falcon-512 verification challenge](https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/43512)