Ethereum research group Ethlabs said it will withdraw its proposal to accelerate block production in the upcoming Hegotá upgrade. The group wants core developers to prioritize preparing the network for quantum‑computing threats, targeting readiness by 2027.
New quantum‑security roadmap
Ethlabs outlined a roadmap named pqai27, which is intended to protect Ethereum against quantum computing and advanced artificial‑intelligence attacks. The group indicated that unrelated upgrades should be reconsidered until quantum readiness is achieved.
Impact on existing upgrade plans
Ethlabs had previously supported Ethereum Improvement Proposal 8198, known as Quick Slots, which would reduce the slot time from 12 seconds to 10 seconds. The group said it will redirect resources to pqai27 but may revisit faster slots in 2028.
For the Hegotá upgrade, Ethlabs stated that the planned censorship‑resistance feature FOCIL should proceed only if it does not compromise quantum readiness. The group highlighted Frame Transactions, which would allow more flexible account authentication, as central to the transition.
The preceding upgrade, Glamsterdam, is expected to continue as scheduled.
Community response
Ethereum core developers have not approved Ethlabs’s proposal. The Ethereum Foundation’s roadmap still targets December 2029 for quantum resistance, while researcher Justin Drake indicated at Devcon that the transition could be completed in 2028.
