Circle Releases Arc Post-Quantum Roadmap: Layer-1 Encrypted Networks Get a Security Upgrade Before 2030

Gate News message: Circle has officially released its post-quantum attack-resistant roadmap for its Layer-1 Arc blockchain, laying the groundwork to fully safeguard wallets, signatures, validators, and off-chain infrastructure by 2030. The roadmap will be implemented in four phases. The first phase will be deployed when Arc launches on the mainnet in 2026, making Arc one of the first mainstream Layer-1 networks whose anti-quantum requirements are incorporated from the design stage.

From a technical perspective, Arc will use NIST-approved CRYSTALS-Dilithium (ML-DSA) and Falcon post-quantum signature schemes, replacing the elliptic-curve cryptography (ECDSA) that most blockchains currently rely on, to address potential threats from quantum computing. In the first phase, Arc will provide optional post-quantum wallets and signatures, prioritizing compatibility over mandatory migration. The second phase will introduce private-state encryption to protect transactions and balances. The third phase will ensure validator security. The fourth phase will cover off-chain infrastructure, including communication protocols, cloud environments, and hardware security modules.

Arc’s post-quantum design directly responds to industry threats. Google research shows that quantum computers could crack Bitcoin’s encryption in as little as nine minutes, while Caltech’s theoretical predictions indicate that runnable quantum systems may be achievable before 2030. Circle states that active addresses must be migrated before the “Q day,” otherwise their public keys could be attacked and exploited, highlighting the urgency and practicality of the roadmap.

Compared with competitors, Arc’s roadmap is more specific. Bitcoin has not yet actively deployed a PQC migration plan. Ethereum’s PQC research is still in the discussion stage. While Algorand has considered anti-quantum design, it has not published a phased implementation timeline. QANplatform launched an early L1 based on lattice cryptography, but it lacks Arc’s institutional infrastructure and USDC integration. Circle’s approach mitigates throughput pressure caused by signature bloat through algorithm optimizations and hardware acceleration, providing a viable post-quantum path for Layer-1 networks.

Arc’s deployment marks a substantive step forward for the encryption industry in the face of quantum threats, offering higher security assurances for USDC and ecosystem partners, while also providing a reference technical roadmap for other Layer-1 networks.