Zero Knowledge Countdown to Q-Day with Project 11
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Nov 5, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Alex Pruden, the founding CEO of Project 11, and Conor Deegan, their VP of Engineering, delve into the looming threats posed by quantum computing to blockchain technology. They reveal which cryptographic algorithms are most vulnerable and outline crucial user migration strategies before 'Q-Day.' The duo emphasizes the need for post-quantum solutions like secure vaults and optimized signature schemes, while also discussing how zero-knowledge proofs can play a role in future security measures.
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Quantum Threat Is Inevitable And Systemic
- Quantum computers will inevitably reach fault-tolerant capability and threaten existing blockchain cryptography.
- Blockchains are now foundational to global finance, so their cryptographic vulnerability has systemic risk.
Protocol Upgrades Aren't The Whole Answer
- Protocols can upgrade to post-quantum schemes, but upgrades have large trade-offs in size, speed, and complexity.
- User migration is the harder problem because every keyholder must move assets to new keys.
Treat User Migration As A High‑Risk Operation
- Users must lift and shift assets by creating new post-quantum wallets and transferring holdings manually.
- Treat migrations as high-risk events and protect key material from phishing, supply-chain, and fake-wallet attacks.