Návrh Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP) 360 pouze snižuje riziko kvantových útoků tím, že omezuje expozici veřejných klíčů; plná postkvantová ochrana vyžaduje nové opkódy.
On 2nd September 2026, engineers within the Tezos ecosystem built a post-quantum previewnet, covering user keys, consensus, and randomness generation.
Though the launch was experimental, it was still further than any major chain has ever gone.
The market noticed. In fact, AMBCrypto reported that XTZ rallied by 30% after the news, hitting a four-month high on an 878% volume surge. Open Interest climbed by 44%, while derivatives volume spiked by 272%.
Tezos’s co-founder Arthur Breitman has been blunt about the stakes. Previously, he has called Bitcoiners’ quantum theories “half-baked crank theories about quantum mechanics.” However, in a recent conversation with AMBCrypto, he clarified,
The crank theories represent a small group of people, though there’s a broader group that sees no urgency, or believes Bitcoin can handle post quantum without any soft or hard fork.
Urgency comes from Google’s “9-minute problem” What exacerbated the debate on crypto and quantum computers? Well, in March 2026, Google published a research paper that compressed the timeline of the quantum threat from a “2040s problem” to a preparation window for “2030–2035.”
The paper cut the estimated physical qubits needed to break Bitcoin’s elliptic curve cryptography by roughly 20x — From millions to fewer than 500,000.
That paper triggered a scramble in the industry. What was even more notable was the “9-minute problem.” For the uninitiated, public keys are exposed in Bitcoin’s mempool while the network confirms it.
Google’s paper also claimed a powerful enough quantum computer could potentially extract a key within approximately 9 minutes under specific assumptions. And Bitcoin’s average block time is 10 minutes.
Google puts the odds of a successful hijack at 41% — not a guarantee, but much too close for comfort.
However, Maksym Sakharov, CEO & Co-Founder of WeFi, told AMBCrypto,
I would be careful about treating the 41% figure as a prediction of what will happen in practice.
He explained,
Google’s paper models a specific attack scenario under a defined set of assumptions, including a sufficiently capable fault-tolerant quantum computer, a public key becoming available almost immediately, and conditions that can favor either the attacker or the legitimate user depending on network behavior.
According to Google’s paper, the attack doesn’t need to crack your cold wallet or steal your seed phrase. It just needs to catch your transaction in that brief window when your key is visible.
Sakharov, talking about the long-term, hypothesized,
Preparation matters more than prediction. The objective should be to ensure that migration paths, governance, and upgrade mechanisms are in place well before advances in quantum computing become an operational concern.
It’s not so easy for Bitcoin For Bitcoin, however, the problem can get even more complicated. Glassnode’s May 2026 research found that over 6 million Bitcoin, or roughly 30% of BTC’s current supply, sits in addresses where the public key is already visible on-chain. That’s roughly $500–600 billion ripe for the taking.
And yet, the contrast between the exchanges is striking. About 1.66 million BTC held on exchanges falls into the exposed category — roughly 40% of all operationally exposed Bitcoin. Coinbase has 5% exposure; Fidelity at 2%.
Binance sits at 85%. Bitfinex, Robinhood, and several others are at or near 100%.
Christopher Smith, co-founder and CEO of Quantus, elaborated on Bitcoin’s exposure problem in conversation with AMBCrypto.
It’s a solvable technical problem, but the social coordination is the difficult part. For various reasons, Bitcoin has cultivated a culture of not changing, but it really is a cultural issue more than a technical issue. If we had a post-quantum address type, then most big addresses could migrate within a few months.
He continued,
The bigger issues are that post-quantum addresses could take years to ship, and nobody has a politically viable solution for Satoshi’s coins, which are currently an $80B quantum canary.
Smith’s argument highlights one of Bitcoin’s unresolved questions. The harder decisions will involve coins that will never migrate, including Bitcoin founder Satoshi’s 1.1 million stash.
Coinbase’s Quantum Advisory Council understands these concerns as well and has thus outlined three options: freeze, burn, or do nothing and take the loss. However, each option here clashes with Bitcoin’s core principles in some way.
So, what’s the solution? For Bitcoin’s network to become quantum-proof, starting today means completion on around 2033. This would uncomfortably overlap with Google’s 2030–2035 preparation window.
One must also remember that Bitcoin’s governance is notoriously slow. It’s an open secret. SegWit took over eight years from conception to adoption, and Taproot underwent the same journey in nearly seven years.
For casual observers on the scene, Bitcoin’s BIP-360 may seem like the solution. It is the network’s quantum-resistance proposal that introduces a new address type called P2MR (Pay-to-Merkle-Root), removes Taproot’s key-path spending, and uses hash-based commitments.
However, be warned, BIP-360 is not quantum-proof. In fact, it does not answer the Bitcoin network’s concerns. As Christopher Smith told AMBCrypto,
The quantum safety of a BIP360 address is the same as a P2PKH address. To make a fully post-quantum address type, we need post-quantum op codes, which requires a decision on which post-quantum algorithm to support, and there is no official process for this.
In a nutshell, BIP-360 has critical limits that cannot be ignored.
First of all, it doesn’t replace Bitcoin’s cryptography as ECDSA and Schnorr signatures remain in use. P2MR reduces exposure by forcing spending through script paths, but it’s merely a risk-reduction measure.
Also, BIP-360 will not migrate existing coins automatically. There is a 2-step process here. To begin with, every wallet, exchange, and custodian needs to support the new quantum-proof addresses. Next, users will have to voluntarily move funds. That coordination hasn’t started yet, and there’s no timeline as to when it will.
Breitman has a word of advice though,
Offer hash-based signatures now. The chain can soft-fork very quickly in an emergency, I believe it will, and that’s a good thing. But users can be very slow moving, and they need to be given ample time, several years, to migrate.
What are the market’s altcoins doing? Altcoin networks have already started their push towards making crypto future-ready, in a sense. The most notable example is the Tezos network, whose post-quantum previewnet went live on 2nd September 2026, with tz5 accounts using ML-DSA-44 signatures.
The network also supports STARK-based consensus aggregation, a ZODA data availability layer, and TzEL private payments on testnet, making it the most comprehensive quantum-resistant network out of any major chain.
According to Breitman,
Starks have come a long way in terms of proving speed and ease of deployment, and they pair very nicely with hash-based signatures.
As far as the rest of the market is concerned, Native Falcon-1024 accounts have been live on Algorand’s mainnet since v5.0.0 in August 2026. Since then, the network has processed over 500,000+ post-quantum-signed transactions. Right now, Falcon-1024 is a NIST Level 5 standard — the highest security category.
The Quantum Resistant Ledger, also dubbed to be the “original post-quantum blockchain,” has been running XMSS since June 2018. That’s eight years of quantum-resistant operations!
The list will be incomplete without mentioning Ethereum since it has released a roadmap targeting full quantum protection by 2029. Account abstraction, also dubbed EIP-8141, will let users switch to quantum-resistant signatures before the protocol-wide migration begins.
‘Quantum-ready’ is already becoming a narrative Today, a network being ‘quantum-ready’ is more than just a talking point. For traders, the differentiator is quite simple — which chains look ready, and which are still dragging their feet?
Currently, only Tezos, Algorand, and QRL have real implementations. Though it is a start, it is concerning, as none of the major altcoin networks, with the exception of Ethereum, even have a concrete roadmap.
Bitcoin does not even have its head in the game.
The window between “we have time” and “we’re out of time” is narrowing. If the transition to post-quantum cryptography arrives sooner, the networks that began preparing early will be the victors.
Maksym Sakharov mulled,
The strongest ecosystems are already thinking about cryptographic migration as part of their long-term roadmap rather than as a future emergency. Good financial infrastructure is designed around the assumption that today’s strongest cryptography will eventually be replaced by
something stronger.
For now, the market is watching, and the chains already in the game have a head start.
For individual users, though, the takeaway is simpler: DYOR. As Sakharov put it,
Individual users cannot realistically prepare for advances in cryptography on their own. Their long-term protection will depend far more on whether the infrastructure they rely on is designed to adapt as security standards evolve.
Final Summary Quantum computers can theoretically steal exposed Bitcoin keys in nine minutes — under the 10-minute window needed for Bitcoin’s mempool. Tezos, Algorand, and QRL are already quantum-ready, while Bitcoin’s BIP-360 is just a risk-reduction measure, not a solution.
Algorand ($ALGO) stablecoin market cap has risen almost 25% in a week to $97.07M, putting the $100M milestone within reach, per DefiLlama data.
Algorand ($ALGO) is closing in on a stablecoin milestone. The stablecoin market cap on the network has risen by nearly 25% over the past week, according to DefiLlama data, and now stands at $97.07M.
If that pace holds, the network will pass $100M in stablecoin supply in the coming days. That would place @Algorand among a group of only 26 other networks above that level.
What the data showsDefiLlama's Algorand dashboard, updated on Oct. 21, 2026, lists stablecoin market cap at $97.1M, with a 7-day change of +24.92%. USDC dominance is 98.51%, which means the increase is almost entirely driven by a single issuer's token.
That concentration is not new. In late September, a separate snapshot showed the supply at about $45M, with USDC making up nearly 96%. The latest figure is therefore more than double that level in under a month. A third-party report also pointed to a sharp rise in USDC on the network over 30 days, with total stablecoin supply reaching its highest level since July 2025.
Algorand is one of the chains where Circle issues USDC natively rather than through a bridge. Circle's Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol is also expanding the number of chains between which USDC can move, which can make it easier for liquidity to arrive on smaller networks.
Rankings and what to watchA move past $100M would be a symbolic step more than a structural one. Sitting alongside the broader ecosystem, Algorand's DeFi total value locked was $34.62M on the same DefiLlama page, and 24-hour DEX volume was around $188,522. Stablecoin supply alone does not show how actively the funds are being used.
If growth continues beyond the $100M mark, the chain could overtake networks such as @SonicLabs and @NEARProtocol in stablecoin supply rankings. Those comparisons depend on daily changes in supply on each chain, and positions can shift quickly.
For $ALGO, which DefiLlama lists with a market cap of about $1.03B, the stablecoin trend is one indicator of on-chain liquidity. It does not by itself point to price direction.
SourcesDefiLlama: Algorand chain metrics
Eco: How USDC works in 2026 (native chain list and CCTP V2, citing Circle)
Algorand uvádí, že od zveřejnění studie společnosti Google zpracoval na svém mainnetu přibližně 1,7 milionu postkvantových transakcí s podpisy Falcon, které vybral NIST.
Algorand (ALGO) says it has processed millions of post-quantum transactions on mainnet since Google's quantum paper, using NIST-selected Falcon signatures.
@Algorand says it has processed roughly 1.7 million post-quantum transactions on mainnet since @Google published its widely discussed research on quantum threats to cryptocurrencies, as the network pushes its early start on quantum-resistant security as a competitive edge for $ALGO.
The figure is a company claim and has shifted in recent weeks. Algorand's own posts earlier this week cited , and secondary coverage has since reported . The numbers have not been independently audited in the sources reviewed.
What Google's paper changedThe research behind the debate was published on March 30 by Google Quantum AI. The authors stressed that such attacks are not yet feasible.
The paper also pointed to chains already working on the problem. According to a market report, The same report noted that , only that it had implemented features to support future migration.
How Algorand's approach worksAlgorand's technical documentation says The chain's history is also protected: That is only part of the picture, however. Algorand's own write-up says the hardest remaining step
There are trade-offs. , which
Other networks are also preparing. One analysis noted that It also described @Starknet as using hash-based cryptography that is Algorand's transaction count, if it holds, shows live usage rather than roadmaps, though the volume does not settle how the wider industry will migrate.
Sources
Algorand technical brief on Falcon-signed transactionsThe Quantum Insider on Google's quantum paperThe Defiant on the Google Quantum AI whitepaper
Marc Vanlerberghe rezignoval na funkci ředitele strategie a marketingu Algorand Foundation uprostřed reorganizace zahájené novým výkonným ředitelem Williamem Herkelrathem.
The Algorand Foundation has lost another senior executive. Marc Vanlerberghe resigned on October 14, 2026, ending a 2.5-year run that began when he joined as Chief Marketing Officer in March 2024.
By the time he left, his title had grown to Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer. That makes this more than a branding departure. The person shaping how Algorand pitched itself to the world is now out of the C-suite.
His exit lands during a broader overhaul. New CEO William Herkelrath is reviewing the foundation’s initiatives and partnerships, and his stated goal is to make Algorand self-sustaining.
A month of exits
Vanlerberghe’s resignation is not happening in isolation. It follows the departure of Chief Technology Officer Bruno Martins, who resigned around October 9, 2026.
Martins’ exit itself came after the resignation of former CEO Staci Warden. Her departure opened the door for Herkelrath, who took over as CEO on August 31, 2026. The foundation formally announced his appointment on September 9, 2026.
The changes reach the board as well. Herkelrath and Alex Fowler joined it, while Rebecca Rettig and Michael Mosier stepped off.
Vanlerberghe is not disappearing entirely. He has committed to staying an active member of the Algorand community even after giving up his executive post.
Herkelrath’s mandate
To understand the departures, it helps to understand what the new boss wants. Herkelrath arrives with a background that includes Chainlink, the oracle network that connects blockchains to outside data.
His brief has two big pillars. The first is pushing Algorand toward institutional adoption, meaning banks, asset managers, and other large financial players. The second is strengthening the network’s post-quantum cryptography capabilities.
Reviews like that rarely leave every program, or every executive, untouched. When a new CEO starts asking which projects earn their keep, the org chart tends to get rearranged too.
What this means for Algorand
Community reaction has split along predictable lines. Some members are uneasy about how quickly senior leaders are leaving. Others see the exits as a necessary clearing of the decks under new management.
There are a few things worth watching from here. The first is whether the foundation names replacements for the CTO and marketing roles, and what backgrounds those hires bring.
The second is the outcome of Herkelrath’s partnership review. Which initiatives survive will reveal how aggressively the foundation is cutting toward its self-sustaining target.
The third is the post-quantum roadmap itself. Announcements are easy. Shipped upgrades that institutions can actually evaluate are the harder, and more meaningful, milestone.
Disclosure: This article was edited by John Chen. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
EU regulators have flagged quantum risks to blockchain cryptography. Algorand (ALGO) says Falcon-signed State Proofs and native quantum-safe accounts are live, with consensus the remaining gap.
Regulators are putting more weight behind a long-running concern in crypto: that quantum computers could one day undermine the cryptography that secures blockchains. @Algorand says its defenses are already running on mainnet, though one major component remains unfinished.
Regulators raise the quantum riskThe European Supervisory Authorities, which bring together the European Banking Authority, the European Securities and Markets Authority and the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority, flagged the issue in their Autumn 2026 risk update. According to CoinDesk, the authorities said an advanced quantum computer could undermine the cryptography used to secure blockchains, and that the threat could emerge before the technology has a viable commercial application.
The European Commission has also urged member states to begin post-quantum transitions by the end of 2026, CoinDesk reported. The original post also points to a US government audit last week that found federal agencies unprepared. That audit could not be independently verified for this draft.
What Algorand says is already liveAlgorand says it has been working on the problem for several years. Per the project's own documentation, it introduced State Proofs in 2022, and these are signed using Falcon, a post-quantum digital signature scheme selected by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
The project has since extended protection to user accounts. The same page says native Falcon-1024 accounts went live on mainnet in August 2026 after the Algorand v5.0.0 upgrade reached the required network approval threshold. Blockchain Reporter noted that previously, similar protection required custom logic attached to an account.
Algorand also recorded its first quantum-resilient mainnet transaction in 2025, according to the same report.
Consensus is the remaining gapThe last major piece is consensus. Algorand's voting keys still rely on classical cryptography, according to the original post, which says the project targets full quantum resilience by the end of 2027. The Algorand Foundation has cautioned that other protocol components are still migrating and has not claimed the system is fully future-proof, as Blockchain Reporter reported.
For $ALGO holders and developers, the practical takeaway is that protection now covers chain history and, for users who opt in, individual accounts. The block-production layer is the part still to be addressed. No reported quantum attack has so far derived a Bitcoin private key from its public key, so the warnings remain about future risk rather than a present threat.
SourcesCoinDesk: EU financial watchdogs warn quantum computing poses imminent threat to blockchain encryption
Algorand: Post-Quantum Technology
Blockchain Reporter: Algorand v5 adds quantum-resilient accounts on mainnet
Program xGov společnosti Algorand umožňuje účtům účastnícím se produkce bloků hlasovat o grantech pro open-source vývojáře; návrh vyžaduje alespoň 51 % hlasů pro a splnění dvou minimálních kvór.
Algorand's xGov program lets block-producing accounts vote on grants for open-source builders, with funds paid onchain. Here is how voting power and approval thresholds work.
Crypto grants are usually handed out by a foundation. @Algorand's xGov program takes a different route: the people who keep the network running vote on them instead, with funds paid onchain to open-source builders.
How voting power works on Algorand xGovVoting power comes from producing blocks. Each block that an account produced over a recent 3 million-block window counts as one vote, so busier node runners carry more weight. Messari's Q3 2025 brief says voting power is assigned in proportion to blocks produced in the most recent 3 million-block observation window, which is updated every million blocks.
The model ties influence to network contribution rather than token holdings. According to the xGov Explorer, there is no minimum ALGO stake requirement. Participants must instead operate an Algorand node involved in consensus.
The biggest nodes cannot push a grant through alone. A proposal needs at least 51% yes votes plus two turnout minimums. One counts every voter equally, while the other counts voting power. Bigger requests need higher turnout. The xGov Explorer also notes that the voting mechanism varies by category depending on the amount requested.
Launch, fees and scope@AlgoFoundation took xGov live on mainnet in July 2025. Block-producing accounts enroll for a small one-time fee to vote. Messari reports that voters pay a one-time enrollment fee of 10 ALGO, while proposers must complete KYC and pay a separate 100 ALGO account creation fee.
Proposals are limited in scope. Per Messari, grants range from 2,500 to 200,000 ALGO and cover tools such as SDKs, wallets, explorers and telemetry. The Foundation set an initial 2025 xGov budget of 3 million ALGO, or 0.03% of total token supply, according to the same report. The xGov Explorer adds that only retroactive grant proposals for open-source contributions and projects are accepted.
The program sits alongside Algorand's shift away from governance rewards. The Algorand blog says staking now rewards node operators for securing the network, while xGov gives engaged community members a role in directing ecosystem development.
ALGO za posledních 24 hodin vzrostl o více než 17 % díky postkvantovým aktualizacím a platbám s AI; USDC na Algorandu vedl platby x402 v objemu 390,4 tis. USD.
Algorand [ALGO] rallied by more than 17% in the past 24 hours, leading gains among the top 100 cryptos by market cap. This surge has brought its total gains to over 41% in the past 30 days.
This rally is irrespective of Bitcoin [BTC] developing weakness as its price trades at $82,600. ALGO’s selective rally was as a result of fundamentals, technical upgrades to its code, and network activity. Here is how:
Why did Algorand crypto rally so hard today? Algorand launched its post-quantum roadmap in June this year, putting the chain on track toward a resilient 2027.
As per the roadmap, PQ multisig and hybrid LogicSig accounts are being executed as planned for Q4. Thus, the chain was ready for any threat, whether it came in a few months or years, with 1.6 million post-quantum transactions already completed.
As a result, Algorand’s network activity also heightened as it supported AI agent payments through Coinbase’s x402. USDC on Algorand led x402 payments at $390.4K, followed by USDC on Base at $378.3K.
Most of Algorand’s volume came last week.
Source: Token Terminal One fundamental reason was the appointment of a new CEO, William Herkelrath, who brought 20 years of experience in blockchain infrastructure. William has previously served as the Chief Revenue Officer at Curv before joining Chainlink [LINK] in another leadership role.
Moreover, ALGO has also been enjoying regulatory clarity since March as the SEC treats it as a digital commodity rather than a security. This ruling applies to many other cryptos, but can ALGO sustain the resurgence?
Is the rebound the start of an ALGO comeback? Following this sudden uptick, Algorand broke above a bull flag, hinting at potential continuation. The correction began on the 28th of September, when most cryptos printed this year’s peaks.
The rebound saw buying pressure, with the CVD showing a maximum of 17.28 million ALGO longed during the day. To keep the altcoin surging, the price needs to stay above the pattern.
Numerically, ALGO should trade above $0.13 to keep it bullish, with the next target at $0.19. However, $0.14 has been a resistance for far too long, that is, since the start of 2026.
Source: ALGO/USDT on TradingView However, overlaying the RSI Divergence, a bearish signal appears, indicating potential profit-taking after the uptick. From that, it could hint that a short-term correction may follow this breakout.
Final Summary Algorand rallies over 17% following a technical upgrade to its code, a new CEO appointment, and a surge in AI payments. ALGO broke from a bull flag on the 4-hour chart for a continuation but faces this year’s resistance at $0.14.
@Algorand's consensus layer grew more decentralized on October 6, 2026, as active validator nodes reached 1,562, marking a new seven-day high. Network telemetry tracked by @Chainspect put the week-on-week increase at 0.39%, up from the prior weekly peak of 1,556 recorded on September 29.
A Steady Climb in Validator Participation The incremental gain continues a broader trend of expanding participation on the network. The October 6 figure of 1,562 reflects a consolidation within that range, with the network sustaining a materially larger validator base than it held just two years prior.
Stake distribution has also shifted meaningfully toward the community.
Why Validator Count Matters for Pure Proof of Stake
Adding more independent operators therefore reinforces both the security and the censorship-resistance of the chain without requiring changes to its core architecture.
The latest validator milestone is a small but consistent data point in Algorand's ongoing effort to distribute control of its consensus layer more widely across the global operator community.
Validator Count Reaches New Weekly HighThe @Algorand network hit a new weekly peak of 1,556 active validators as of September 29, 2026, according to data from Chainspect. That represents a 0.19 percent increase in participating nodes week over week, a modest but continued upward move in a metric that carries real weight for network security and resilience.
The milestone builds on a broader trend. The new September figure pushes that benchmark higher still.
A Broader Push Toward DecentralizationThe rising validator numbers are the product of deliberate network design.
That accessibility, combined with staking incentives introduced under the Algorand 4.0 protocol upgrade, has driven consistent validator growth throughout 2026.
With the count now at a fresh weekly high, $ALGO continues to build the case that its decentralization story is more than just optics.
Sources:
Algorand August 2026 Insights Report, Algorand Foundation
Algorand Price Rally Boosted by Institutional Deal and Milestone, The Cryptonomist
Algorand Network Overview, Algorand Foundation
Stablecoin Supply and DeFi Activity Pick UpFresh on-chain data points to a meaningful uptick in activity across @Algorand. The stablecoin market cap on the network rose 12.66% over the past week to $45.22M, with $USDC accounting for nearly 96% of that total supply.
DeFi total value locked (TVL) on the chain climbed 5.13% in 24 hours to $38.42M, reflecting a broader trend of capital re-engaging with the network after softer months through mid-2026.
DEX Volume Surges, Folks Finance Leads LendingDecentralized exchange activity has seen a sharp rebound. DEX volume on Algorand jumped 70% week-on-week to $6.46M, a notable acceleration that suggests traders are becoming more active on-chain.
Folks Finance, the leading lending protocol in the Algorand ecosystem, added further momentum. Its TVL rose 13.77% over the same seven-day period, according to DeFiLlama data. The protocol has expanded beyond Algorand as well, with a cross-chain lending product covering networks including Avalanche, Ethereum, and BNB Smart Chain.
Taken together, the data paints a picture of renewed momentum on Algorand: stablecoin supply is growing, DEX traders are returning, and the network's primary lending protocol is attracting fresh capital. Whether these weekly gains translate into a sustained trend will depend on broader market conditions and continued developer activity on the chain.
Sources:
DeFiLlama: Algorand Stablecoins Market Cap
DeFiLlama: Folks Finance TVL
Algorand Foundation: August 2026 Algo Insights Report
Only a few days after launching native quantum accounts after the Algorand v5.0.0 upgrade, Pera Wallet has helped Algorand cross 1,000,000 post-quantum resilient transactions.
What's behind the number A significant share of the quantum transaction volume is coming from Pera's commemorative NFTs, signed using FALCON signatures, a NIST-selected post-quantum signature scheme, earned by connecting a quantum account and checking how many post-quantum transactions it's sent. There are three tiers: 1, 100, and 1,000 transactions. Each tier unlocks its own 3D collectible (3D support is a new feature within the recently released Pera 7).
Try it yourself To learn more about native PQ accounts and how to create one, follow these steps:
Open Pera Wallet and click your account in the upper left corner Tap + to add an account, then select “Add Quantum Account,” and name it That’s it. If you already have an account you want to continue using? You can rekey that one instead and keep your same address and history.
Once you have a quantum account, it works just like any other account for signing transactions. That includes minting an ASA, which counts toward the total and comes out post-quantum resilient, with no extra setup needed.
Create a quantum account, participate in post-quantum transactions, and claim your NFTs.
Questions about quantum accounts in Pera? Learn more here.
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This blog contains forward-looking statements regarding planned post-quantum protocol upgrades, product releases, and timelines, including the introduction of native post-quantum accounts, post-quantum multi-signatures, treasury migration, and continued progress toward full protocol quantum resilience. These statements reflect Pera Wallet LDA’s current expectations and are subject to change as development progresses, as research in post-quantum cryptography evolves, and as external standards (including those of NIST and other standards bodies) develop. Actual results, timing, and scope may differ. Pera Wallet LDA undertakes no obligation to update these statements except as required.
MEXC has completed a migration of its $RIO token reserves from the Algorand blockchain to Ethereum, swapping holdings at a 1:1 ratio. The move, confirmed through Realio Network’s official channels on September 14, 2026, is part of a broader recovery process the project has been managing following an unspecified incident affecting its reserves.
The new token now lives at Ethereum contract address 0x94a8b4EE5CD64C79D0Ee816f467EA73009f51aA0, verifiable on Etherscan. For anyone wondering whether their holdings survived the crossing, that address is the definitive reference point.
What actually happened here Realio Network is a real-world asset tokenization platform, meaning it helps bring traditionally illiquid assets like private equity and real estate onto public blockchains.
$RIO functions as the network’s utility and gas token. Since its initial launch in March 2023, $RIO has operated across multiple chains simultaneously, including Ethereum, Algorand, and Stellar, giving users flexibility in where they hold and transact the token.
The migration MEXC executed is not the exchange acting unilaterally. Realio Network directed the move, and MEXC followed through on its end by converting the Algorand-based holdings to the new ERC-20 version at a ratio that leaves holders with exactly what they started with, numerically speaking.
This is not the first time MEXC has navigated a $RIO chain transition. In late 2024, the exchange handled a similar contract swap for $RIO on Binance Smart Chain, also at 1:1, without disrupting trading.
As of the latest communications from Realio Network, no broader disruption to $RIO trading on MEXC has been reported. The project has indicated that further recovery steps will be announced through official channels.
Why Ethereum, and why it matters Moving from Algorand to Ethereum is not a lateral shuffle. Ethereum is, by most measures, the dominant chain for tokenized real-world assets, with more mature infrastructure, more extensive developer tooling, and a larger user base than almost every competing network.
The shift also simplifies the asset management picture for an exchange like MEXC. Maintaining reserve balances across multiple chains introduces operational complexity, and consolidating toward Ethereum reduces the number of moving parts to monitor during a recovery period.
Realio Network’s multi-chain architecture has always been a feature rather than an afterthought. The project launched in March 2023 with explicit support for several blockchains, recognizing that different user bases gravitate toward different ecosystems.
What to watch from here The immediate practical implication for $RIO holders on MEXC is straightforward: holdings are preserved at the same numeric value, just on a different underlying chain.
The more interesting question is what “additional recovery steps” from Realio Network actually entail. The project has been deliberate about not over-communicating on the nature of the original incident, and has stated it will keep users updated through official communications.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Algorand spustil na mainnetu nativní kvantově odolné účty Falcon-1024; za první týdny jich vzniklo asi 1 800 a zpracovaly přes 1,2 milionu transakcí. Ripple mezitím míří na plnou postkvantovou připravenost do roku 2028.
Algorand, a blockchain known for its focus on scalable and secure financial applications, introduced native Falcon-1024 quantum-resistant accounts on its mainnet in August. While Algorand’s move signals progress toward quantum safety, experts pointed out that the network’s transition is not yet complete since many critical elements still rely on Ed25519 cryptography, which is not quantum-secure.
Quantum security initiatives on Algorand and RippleFalcon-1024, a post-quantum signature scheme, underpins Algorand’s recent efforts. State proofs have incorporated the algorithm since 2022. With the v5.0.0 upgrade, support for Falcon-1024 accounts was officially activated around August 20 this year.
In the first several weeks following activation, users created approximately 1,800 Falcon-powered quantum-resilient accounts, which processed over 1.2 million transactions. These accounts coexist with traditional Ed25519 accounts, and transactions using Falcon-1024 carry higher network fees—three times the minimum compared to classic accounts. Algorand Foundation’s current roadmap points to 2027 for broader quantum resilience, including post-quantum VRFs (Verifiable Random Functions) and consensus mechanisms.
Mini dictionary: Falcon-1024 is a post-quantum digital signature algorithm developed to withstand quantum computer attacks that could compromise widely used cryptographic schemes.
An Algorand user named Todd acknowledged on community channels that while two core post-quantum components are functional, the most challenging segment—consensus and network-wide implementation—remains a work in progress. Algorand currently leads in deploying post-quantum (PQ) accounts, but the transition across the full protocol stack is still ongoing.
BlockchainQuantum-Resistant Accounts LiveMain Consensus StatusFull Network PQ TargetAlgorandYes (since Aug. 2023)Partly (Ed25519 still used)2027Ripple (XRPL)NoNot yet post-quantum2028EthereumNoNot yet post-quantum2029 (estimated)Ripple’s broader audit and roadmapRipple, the company behind XRP Ledger (XRPL), is also prioritizing quantum security. Ripple is funding research by Project Eleven to examine various aspects of security, including validation, custody, networking, and wallet technology instead of focusing solely on account signatures. Ripple’s planned roadmap includes hybrid quantum-classic testing around 2027, aiming for full post-quantum readiness by 2028. This timeline is a contributor-provided estimate and has not been ratified as an official amendment on the XRPL site.
A feature of the XRP Ledger called RegularKey allows users to rotate signing keys without changing their account address, making key management more flexible if large, post-quantum signature schemes are adopted. XRPL developers have experimented with ML-DSA and Dilithium (both post-quantum candidates) on AlphaNet, but production deployment is still pending.
Mini dictionary: ML-DSA and Dilithium are advanced cryptographic signature schemes designed to be secure even if quantum computers become powerful enough to break today’s standard public-key cryptosystems.
While Algorand boasts early adoption of quantum-resistant accounts, Ripple focuses on conducting comprehensive security reviews before rolling out similar updates to mainnet. Ethereum, another major blockchain, maintains a public timeline around 2029 for its own quantum resistance measures.
Debate among blockchain communities has shifted from which project first discussed quantum resilience to which ones are actually upgrading signatures, consensus, and validator software ahead of future quantum computing threats.
Security implications and industry outlookExperts have emphasized that quantum risk revolves around the potential for “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks, where malicious actors collect public keys today and only decrypt assets once quantum hardware becomes available. Deploying Falcon-powered accounts closes part of that risk window, but consensus mechanisms built on elliptic curve cryptography remain vulnerable.
The distinction between Algorand and XRPL’s approaches lies in implementation: Algorand has prioritized early access and transaction counts for Falcon-based accounts, whereas XRPL’s strengths include audit breadth and key-rotation flexibility. Both projects continue to work toward full post-quantum readiness, but neither has completed the migration at the consensus layer.
Industry analysts believe that full quantum resistance across blockchain protocols is still several years away. Collaboration between projects may ultimately accelerate robust, sector-wide upgrades.
Until protocols move consensus and signature schemes to post-quantum cryptography, networks remain vulnerable, regardless of advances in wallet security.
Algorand jmenoval Williama Herkelratha novým CEO a nahradil Staci Warden, která po téměř pěti letech odchází. Síť se pod jeho vedením zaměří na institucionální adopci a postkvantovou odolnost.
Algorand Foundation U.S. Inc announced on Sept. 9 that William Herkelrath has been appointed chief executive officer of Algorand, succeeding Staci Warden, who is stepping down after nearly five years leading the layer-1 network. Herkelrath, who officially assumed the role on Aug. 31, joins as the network sharpens its focus on institutional adoption and post-quantum resilience, according to an announcement the foundation published.
From Chainlink and Curv to the corner office Herkelrath brings roughly two decades of experience across artificial intelligence, enterprise software, institutional finance and blockchain infrastructure. He most recently co-founded K3 Labs, an AI-first automation platform for building and running AI agent-managed workflows, and previously held leadership roles at Chainlink and Curv. “I joined Algorand because they are a leader in decentralized post-quantum cryptography,” Herkelrath said. “With both AI and quantum threats on the horizon, Algorand has a unique opportunity to become a trusted partner in bringing verifiable and trusted security to a wide variety of institutions.”
Board reshuffle and a post-quantum bet Alongside the leadership transition, Algorand announced changes to its board of directors. Herkelrath and Alex Fowler, chief strategy officer at Nexus Laboratories, are joining the board, while Rebecca Rettig and Michael Mosier are departing. The appointment arrives as Google’s Quantum AI paper cited the network more than 30 times as a key innovator, post-quantum accounts are already live, and the network has pioneered the use of verifiable random functions backed by a large ephemeral validator set.
A broader institutional push Warden framed the handoff as the culmination of the foundation’s work proving what a public blockchain can do for real-world finance. “Leading the Algorand Foundation has been one of the great privileges of my career,” Warden said. “William brings the vision and experience to lead Algorand through its next chapter.” The change keeps Algorand’s existing leadership team in place and extends a push into institutional finance that has already seen the network partner with Microsoft and CDP Venture Capital’s Frontech accelerator, as it positions itself for the next generation of digital assets and cybersecurity infrastructure. The network’s ecosystem spans startups, developers, governments and global partners building real-world financial and digital-asset tools, a base the foundation expects to expand under the new leadership.
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XRP Ledger plánuje plnou kvantovou odolnost do roku 2028, tedy dříve než Ethereum. V roce 2027 má začít hybridní nasazení nových bezpečnostních protokolů.
XRP Ledger (XRPL) developers have announced a plan to achieve full quantum resistance for the network by 2028, placing XRP Ledger ahead of several major blockchain rivals pursuing the same milestone. The move was confirmed by Vet, a contributor at the XRPL Foundation and validator on the decentralized Unique Node List (dUNL). Vet outlined that significant advancements are expected by 2027, including the initial deployment of new security protocols through a hybrid system.
XRPL’s technological strategy and key featuresThis newly revealed timeline positions XRPL as a front-runner in the race to secure blockchains against the potential threat of quantum computing, with its projected transition set for one year before Ethereum‘s scheduled 2029 upgrade.
Developers have highlighted three critical architectural innovations underpinning the XRPL quantum security transition. First, the native key rotation feature will enable cryptographic keys to be updated without changing users’ existing r-addresses. This secure and seamless transition is expected to minimize confusion and operational risks for asset custodians. In contrast, most competing blockchains require users to manually transfer assets to new wallets when adopting post-quantum standards.
Second, XRPL and RippleX developers have established a “Quantum-Day” emergency response protocol. In the event of rapid advances in quantum computing threatening current cryptographic schemes, this protocol allows vulnerable accounts to be instantly isolated and secured without interrupting the overall functioning of the ledger.
Third, the network has already begun actively testing quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms. Developers intend to roll out new security measures gradually, using a hybrid deployment that runs alongside existing protocols. This approach aims to ensure robust protection while maintaining the stability of the network during the transition phase.
Mini dictionary: Unique Node List (dUNL): A decentralized list of trusted validators used in XRP Ledger to ensure agreement on the true state of the network and maintain consensus securely.
Significant enhancements in quantum-resistant security are anticipated by 2027, which will see the launch of a hybrid deployment model operating alongside the network’s existing security structure. This aims to allow a smoother transition and scalability for users and custodians alike.
Competition with Algorand, and comprehensive XRPL auditThe race for quantum resistance has brought renewed focus on comparisons between XRPL and Algorand. Algorand recently announced the development of quantum-secured accounts utilizing Falcon-1024 signatures, a cryptographic scheme resistant to attacks by quantum computers. However, Vet cautioned the community against overestimating this achievement, pointing out that Algorand still primarily depends on the Ed25519 standard for most routine operations. Full integration of quantum-resistant technologies, including the consensus protocol, is not scheduled for completion until 2027.
Mini dictionary: Falcon-1024: A post-quantum digital signature algorithm designed to remain secure against quantum computer attacks.
NetworkQuantum Protection StartFull Quantum Protection TargetCurrent Key StandardXRP Ledger2027 (Hybrid Phase)2028Native key rotationEthereum–2029To be upgradedAlgorandIn progress2027Falcon-1024 (partial), Ed25519Meanwhile, the scope of Ripple’s Project Eleven includes a thorough security audit of XRP Ledger, covering components from validator nodes to the underlying network infrastructure. The audit is part of a broader initiative to validate and update every layer of security before the mainnet’s transition to quantum resistance.
Ripple’s rollout plan features a staged approach, beginning with comprehensive testing. A hybrid deployment of legacy and post-quantum signatures is planned for 2027, leading to a full upgrade in 2028 for the mainnet environment.
As part of its industry-leading strategy, XRP Ledger’s transition roadmap incorporates hybrid cryptographic solutions, system-wide audits, and responsive emergency protocols designed to protect user assets in the face of rapidly evolving quantum technology threats.
Algorand 31. srpna zpracoval za 24 hodin přes 584 000 transakcí, což byl nejrušnější den sítě za předchozích sedm dní. Aktivita na chainu letos dál roste.
Algorand Hits Weekly Transaction PeakThe Algorand network recorded a localized surge in activity on August 31, processing over 584,000 transactions in a single 24-hour window, according to @AlgoFoundation. The figure represents the busiest day on the network within the prior seven-day period, pointing to a meaningful short-term uptick in on-chain demand for the $ALGO-powered layer-1 blockchain.
While a single-day reading does not on its own signal a structural shift, it sits against a backdrop of steadily rising cumulative activity. Total transactions on the network rose to 3.64 billion as of June 2026, with node participation increasing by nearly 3% month-over-month. The network has added users and validators at a consistent pace throughout the year, and daily spikes of this kind tend to reflect bursts of activity tied to specific applications or ecosystem events.
Broader Activity Trends Support the MomentumThe single-day figure is consistent with a wider pattern of growing engagement on Algorand in 2026. USDC transacted volume on the network rose by more than 72% month-over-month to approximately $751 million in June, the highest monthly level recorded in the first half of 2026. Algorand also reported 1.8 million new smart contract deployments in a recent quarter, a 25.7% increase.
Builder activity has been a consistent contributor to on-chain volume. Builder activity saw a sharp recovery in May, with contracts deployed rising 47% and new asset creation more than tripling from April. Algorand's real-world asset ecosystem processed more than 23.2 million tokenized asset transactions during the second quarter, underscoring that the network's growth is tied to actual usage rather than speculation.
On the regulatory front, the network has also gained a clearer footing in the United States. In March and April 2026, both the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission jointly categorized $ALGO as a digital commodity. This official recognition removed significant compliance hurdles that had previously kept many large investors on the sidelines.
The August 31 transaction spike adds another data point to what has been a year of building momentum for the Algorand network, even as token price has lagged behind on-chain fundamentals.
Sources:
Algorand Foundation: June 2026 Algo Insights Report
Crypto Briefing: Algorand Sees 1.8M New Contract Deployments
Cryptonomist: Algorand Price Rally and Institutional Milestone
Algorand Foundation spustila AC2, otevřený protokol pro AI agenty, který umožňuje schvalovat podpisy ve vlastní peněžence bez předání privátních klíčů. Protokol je blockchain-agnostický.
AI agents are increasingly asked to make payments, sign code and manage digital operations, yet the channels they use offer no cryptographic identity and force users to hand over their private keys. The Algorand Foundation is trying to close that gap with AC2, an open protocol announced Aug. 25, according to a release from the foundation.
How AC2 works AC2, short for Agentic Communication and Control Protocol, establishes a direct, end-to-end encrypted WebRTC connection between a user’s wallet and an AI agent. When an agent needs to perform a signing operation, such as a payment, a git commit or an API authorization, it sends a request that the user reviews and approves in their own wallet, and the signature is delegated back. The private key never leaves the user’s control.
The protocol is designed to support a broad range of agentic workflows: a coding agent can draft code and ask the developer to approve the final signature, an assistant can route payment details to a wallet for approval, and a shopping agent can construct a mandate defining what it is authorized to buy and at what price.
The design choices The specification uses DIDComm v2.0 message formats, passkey authentication through Liquid Auth built on FIDO2 and WebAuthn, and supports real-time voice and text streaming as well as signing delegation. It requires no central message relay and no blockchain to operate, and the reference implementation is available on GitHub alongside an open-source wallet proof-of-concept and an OpenClaw plugin for testing.
“The answer is you don’t hand them the keys, you approve each use of them,” said Marc Vanlerberghe, the foundation’s chief strategy and marketing officer, describing how AC2 grants AI agents authority without the ability to act against a user’s interests.
Where it fits The launch builds on Algorand’s recent security-focused upgrades and lands as how exchanges are opening trading to AI agents becomes a live question across the industry. The foundation cautioned that the release contains forward-looking statements and that the protocol remains subject to change as it seeks design partners. The protocol is blockchain-agnostic, so wallets and agents across networks could adopt it rather than being tied to Algorand.
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Algorand 5.0 přidává nativní podporu postkvantových podpisů pro transakce, počínaje Falcon-1024. Součástí jsou i nová, bezpečnější rozhraní pro podepisování v SDK.
The Algorand protocol engineering team has been cooking up a feast lately, and the Algorand 5.0 upgrade brings a wide variety of new capabilities and raises many of the protocol’s long-standing limits. In this four-part series, we’ll explore some of the most important ones through an extended metaphor using the core components of cooking: salt, fat, acid, and heat. Rather than cooking tasty food, though, we’re enhancing the flavor of the applications that can be built on Algorand.
Part 1 of the series (Salt) is below; stay tuned for parts 2-4 in the coming days. Part 1: Salt - Cryptographic capabilities Post-Quantum Signatures The single biggest addition to Algorand in this 5.0 upgrade is a framework enabling native post-quantum (PQ) signature schemes for transactions, beginning with the addition of Falcon-1024.
While it has been possible since late 2025 to create LogicSig smart contract accounts that will only authorize transactions after verifying a Falcon signature, the way this was achieved required combining multiple transactions together, which impeded DeFi composability with protocols that require using several transaction slots in the atomic group for their own calls. Smart contract accounts are also not the typical approach preferred by most Algorand wallets.
A better approach is to add first-class support for transactions to carry post-quantum signatures, and that’s what we’ve added now:
The new pqsig framework is a transaction signature envelope that allows arbitrary schemes to be added to the protocol in the future. Here we can indicate the scheme being used, and the first one we support is Falcon-1024, a lattice-based scheme that is suitable for long-lived accounts. In the future, support for additional schemes will be explored. Falcon-512 is already on Algorand’s roadmap as a variant of Falcon with smaller public key and signature sizes that can be suitable in situations where lightness is useful, and security requirements are somewhat less demanding.
Salt to taste Note that this signature object includes slt, an important salt value that is used to ensure that the Algorand address derived from a PQ public key does not correspond to a valid point on Curve Ed25519. If a PQ account address does not lie on the curve, then there is simply no corresponding Ed25519 private key that could ever be found by an attacker with a quantum computer. As a result, PQ accounts can only ever spend by signing with their PQ key.
Generally speaking, the Algorand technical community will consider the canonical salt to be the lowest value that results in an address that is off of Curve Ed25519. This will be the default approach used in our SDKs when handling accounts, in the algod REST API when submitting transactions, and in other tooling.
That said, the protocol itself will not enforce this canonical salting approach, and signatures will verify successfully even if a different salt has been used by a wallet to generate an account.
Astute readers will notice that the salt is only one byte, which provides 256 tries with roughly 50-50 odds each to find a point that isn’t on the Edwards curve. The probability of using all of those tries and failing to find a good address is extremely small, and if that should occur, a new PQ keypair should be generated.
Crypto-agile signing interfaces Alongside this protocol upgrade, we have introduced upgrades in our SDKs around handling and signing for Algorand accounts. This includes support for PQ signature schemes, support for hierarchical-deterministic (HD) accounts, support for integrating with key management systems (KMS), and more secure secret handling.
Throughout the libraries, you will find flexible interfaces for signing transactions that can be wired up to any signer, with the default approach being that this signing occurs somewhere secure rather than handling raw key material directly in the library.
The goal is to make it easier for developers to build secure, production-ready applications and avoid building infrastructure or even helper scripts that involve the use of secrets in cleartext that can fall victim to malware attacks against servers and developer machines.
These new interfaces also open the door to supporting more signature schemes in the future without requiring developers to update their SDK code to leverage new and different approaches to signing transactions.
Stay tuned for Part 2 in this series: “Fat: Fatter apps and transactions,” coming later this week. What do you want to build on Algorand 5.0? Join our Discord server to meet other developers building PQ solutions, fat apps, box families, and more.
Disclaimer: The content provided in this blog is for informational and educational purposes only. The information is provided by the Algorand Foundation and while we strive to keep it accurate and current, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of the blog or the information contained in it for any purpose. Nothing in this blog is legal, financial, tax, or investment advice, nor an endorsement, guarantee, or investment recommendation. Technical descriptions are provided as of the date of publication and may change. Any statements about future plans, features, integrations, protocol or consensus upgrades, fees, or timelines are forward-looking and subject to change, including subject to community adoption, and are not commitments. You should conduct your own research and consult a qualified professional before acting on any information here; any reliance you place on it is strictly at your own risk. All third-party names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and their mention does not imply affiliation or endorsement.
Quantum-resilient accounts, smarter fees, and bigger smart contracts
Algorand v5.0.0 is now live on mainnet. It Is the largest protocol upgrade since staking rewards in January 2025. Quantum resilient accounts land natively for the first time. The network adopts a usage-based fee model as a first step toward a clearer path for long-term sustainability. And developers get a serious upgrade to what they can build, from bigger smart contracts to new cross-app capabilities.
Here's everything that's new:
Quantum-resilient accounts, now native
With v5.0.0, post-quantum accounts are now a native part of the Algorand protocol.
Almost all of today's crypto security relies on math that's currently unbreakable by any computer that is available today. Quantum computers, once powerful enough, could someday change that, and security researchers have long warned about "harvest now, decrypt later," the risk that encrypted data is being recorded today to crack later. That's why long term integrity matters now.
This isn't the Algorand protocol's first move on quantum security. In 2022, State Proofs signed using FALCON, a post-quantum signature scheme, were deployed to mainnet, , years before most blockchains started planning migrations. Those proofs already protect the chain's entire historical record by anchoring the chain's entire history back to genesis with quantum-resilient signatures.
In 2025, the first quantum-resilient transaction on the Algorand network was sent on mainnet. Then, in June 2026, Algorand Foundation published its post-quantum roadmap mapping out the next stages. Native Falcon-1024 accounts, arriving in this release, are a direct product of that roadmap, not a first step.
That first roadmap deliverable is now live, bringing native support for Falcon-1024 accounts.
You can now create an account protected by a quantum-resilient signature, built directly into the protocol.
Previously, this kind of protection required an extra layer of custom logic attached to your account. Now it's just how an account can work. Simple, native, built in.
These addresses are also built so a traditional classical key isn't a valid match for them, keeping them cleanly separated from today's account scheme.
Algorand Foundation is committed to continuous improvement and adaptation to emerging technologies. However, no system is ever completely future-proof, and neither the Algorand protocol nor Algorand Foundation is claiming otherwise. Other parts of the protocol are still migrating over time. Users should stay informed about ongoing developments and updates.
Why this matters for the network's future
Making post-quantum accounts native didn't happen in isolation. It was made possible by a bigger shift in this release: the network now charges fees based on what a transaction actually needs, not a flat rate for everyone. Quantum-resilient signatures are cheaper to verify than a standard signature, but they take up significantly more space in a block, and that added block space is what the extra fee accounts for. This approach aims to price the difference more fairly, which has enabled native support for quantum-resilient accounts.
This is also the first step toward a more sustainable, self-supporting network long term, part of the thinking being considered in the upcoming King Safety paper.
Here's how it works:
Transactions using more network resources, larger data, or heavier computations carry a higher fee.
Those fees flow into a shared pool that pays the people running the nodes that keep the network running.
More usage means more support for the infrastructure the whole network depends on.
Importantly, this isn't a fee hike for everyone. Everyday activity, simple payments, and basic transfers, stay exactly as affordable as they’ve always been. The network is pricing the specific things that actually cost more to process, not raising the bar for everyone else.
And now, for the builders
That same shift toward paying for what you actually use is also what makes a whole set of new developer capabilities possible in this release.
Until now, some of these upgrades simply weren't practical to offer, because there was no fair way to price them. Now there is.
Developers building on Algorand get a genuinely bigger toolkit with this release:
Bigger, more capable apps. The size limit on smart contracts has doubled. Developers can now build more sophisticated applications without hitting a wall, and existing apps can grow in place, without the painful process of rebuilding from scratch.
Apps that can share information with each other. Box storage, an app's dedicated data storage, was previously locked away, invisible to every other app. Other states, like global and local, have always been visible to other apps. Now, developers can choose to open that up, letting apps read from, or even collaborate with, other trusted apps. Think of it as apps being able to talk to each other in ways they simply couldn't before.
New tools for cutting-edge cryptography. This release adds support for hashing techniques that are especially well-suited to zero-knowledge proofs, a technology that lets you prove something is true without revealing the underlying data. It's a growing corner of the crypto world, and the Algorand protocol is now even better equipped for developers building in that space.
An early look at future network health signals. The upgrade also introduces a new way to measure how busy the network is at any given moment. It doesn't affect anything yet – think of it as a preview – but lays the groundwork for smarter systems down the road.
The bigger picture
The Algorand v5.0.0 upgrade is really one story told in three parts:
Accounts built to outlast the threats of tomorrow
a fee model built to sustain the network for the long run
and a developer toolkit built for what comes next
Taken together, these reinforce that Algorand isn't just reacting to what's coming – we’re ready for it.
This post describes planned work on the Algorand protocol. Any forward-looking statements are subject to change.
Disclaimer: The content provided in this blog is for informational and educational purposes only. The information is provided by the Algorand Foundation and while we strive to keep it accurate and current, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of the blog or the information contained in it for any purpose. Nothing in this blog is legal, financial, tax, or investment advice, nor an endorsement, guarantee, or investment recommendation. Technical descriptions are provided as of the date of publication and may change. Any statements about future plans, features, integrations, protocol or consensus upgrades, fees, or timelines are forward-looking and subject to change, including subject to community adoption, and are not commitments. You should conduct your own research and consult a qualified professional before acting on any information here; any reliance you place on it is strictly at your own risk. All third-party names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and their mention does not imply affiliation or endorsement.
Algorand vydal go-algorand v5.0.0, který přímo do protokolu přidává postkvantové zabezpečení účtů. O aktivaci upgradu nyní rozhodnou hlasováním provozovatelé uzlů.
@Algorand has shipped go-algorand v5.0.0, a consensus upgrade release that embeds post-quantum account security directly into the protocol rather than layering it on top via workarounds.
Node Runners Decide What Happens NextThe release now moves to a governance step: node runners will vote on whether to activate the consensus upgrade. If the vote passes, accounts will be able to use Falcon-1024 signatures at addresses that no Ed25519 key could ever control, drawing a clean cryptographic boundary between legacy and quantum-resistant accounts.
That added security comes with trade-offs. Falcon-1024 transactions cost three times the standard minimum fee, and the signatures cannot be batch verified, meaning each one must be checked individually. Developers and users choosing post-quantum accounts should factor both costs into their workflows.
The v5.0.0 release also brings support for larger app sizes and AVM v13 , with the smart contract size limit doubling to 16,384 bytes. Crucially, live applications can grow into that expanded limit without being redeployed, which removes a significant operational burden for teams running production contracts.
Part of a Broader Quantum-Resistance Push The first post-quantum transaction hit Algorand's mainnet on November 3, 2025, using Falcon signatures. Since then, over 140,000 such transactions have been processed. The v5.0.0 upgrade represents the next logical step: moving from Falcon accounts backed by LogicSignatures to native protocol-level support.
The Q3 2026 protocol release introduces network-level support for multiple concurrent signature schemes, a foundational step toward cryptographic agility, while continuing to support traditional Ed25519 accounts alongside the new Falcon-1024 scheme.
In June 2026, Algorand announced a roadmap targeting broad quantum resilience by the end of 2027, covering native post-quantum accounts, post-quantum multisig for institutions and treasuries, and research into post-quantum-resilient VRF and signatures for consensus messaging.
Algorand Foundation a Flow Traders oznámily partnerství, které přináší ALGO 24/7 institucionální likviditu. Flow Traders ji zpřístupní prostřednictvím své globální exekuční infrastruktury.
The partnership delivers 24/7 liquidity to ALGO for institutional counterparties
, /PRNewswire/ -- Algorand Foundation and Flow Traders, a leading global liquidity provider, today announced a partnership to deepen institutional liquidity across the Algorand blockchain. As part of this collaboration, Flow Traders will provide liquidity to support institutional participation in the Algorand ecosystem and make ALGO available to institutional counterparties through its global execution infrastructure, with execution available via FIX, OMS/EMS, ECNs, or high-touch OTC, and settlement in fiat or stablecoins through established workflows.
"This partnership means Algorand's infrastructure now benefits from Flow Traders' continuous, institutional-grade liquidity," said Amar Odedra, Chief Commercial Officer at the Algorand Foundation. "As Algorand's real-world asset ecosystem grows, deep, reliable liquidity in ALGO gives institutional counterparties the confidence to engage with the network at scale."
"We look forward to making ALGO available to institutional counterparties through our global execution infrastructure," said Michael Lie, Global Head of Digital Assets at Flow Traders. "Deep and reliable liquidity is essential to supporting institutional participation in digital asset markets. By expanding our coverage to ALGO, we are improving access to the Algorand ecosystem as it continues to grow across payments, tokenized assets and other on-chain use cases."
Flow Traders brings two decades of ETF expertise to digital assets, operating at the intersection of traditional finance and on-chain infrastructure. As institutional participation in digital asset markets grows, the Algorand Foundation and Flow Traders are committed to expanding liquidity coverage across the Algorand ecosystem.
The Algorand blockchain supports an established RWA ecosystem spanning real estate, commodities, private credit, and stablecoins, with institutional participants including Lofty, Enel, Aberdeen, and Meld. In Q2 2026, the network recorded 23.2 million RWA transactions across 1.2 million monthly active addresses, with $1.61 billion in USDC transacted volume.
About Algorand
Algorand is a public layer-1 blockchain built for financial empowerment. Algorand offers tools to move money across borders, issue and manage assets, verify identity, and develop services that rely on dependable performance and instant settlement. Developers and organizations use Algorand to create practical tools for payments, identity, asset tokenization, public records, and other financial services. Algorand's all-in-one blockchain infrastructure powers financial apps that are easy to build, simple to use, and unlock economic opportunity for users.
Today, the Algorand ecosystem spans startups, developers, governments, and global partners building real-world financial and digital asset solutions. With Algorand, you decide where your money lives, how it moves, and who can access it. To learn more and join the financial empowerment movement, visit algorand.co.
About Flow Traders
Flow Traders is a leading global ETF and digital asset liquidity provider, on a mission to become the liquidity provider of choice in a 24/7 global financial ecosystem. Founded in 2004, Flow Traders has built on its heritage in European equity ETFs to provide liquidity across more than 25,000 products in ETFs, equities, fixed income, commodities, FX and digital assets, on over 150 venues globally. With more than EUR 7 trillion in annual value traded and over 1,600 active counterparties, Flow Traders plays a central role in ensuring markets remain resilient and transparent. The Company is investing in frontier technologies to drive innovation across traditional and digital asset markets. Operating from eight offices across Europe, the Americas and Asia, Flow Traders brings together over 600 professionals representing more than 60 nationalities.
Disclaimer: This press release is provided for informational purposes only. The information is provided by the Algorand Foundation and, while we strive to keep it accurate and current, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, as to its completeness, accuracy, reliability, or suitability for any purpose. Nothing in this release constitutes legal, financial, tax, or investment advice, nor an endorsement, guarantee, or investment recommendation. References to third parties, including any organizations, agencies, products, or platforms, are for informational purposes only and do not imply any endorsement, affiliation, or partnership beyond what is expressly stated. All third-party names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Operational figures reflect information available as of the date of this release and may be subject to revision. Any statements regarding future plans, integrations, deployments, or timelines are forward-looking and subject to change. The Algorand Foundation undertakes no obligation to update these statements except as required.
Integrace x402 na Algorandu už přinesla přes 160 000 transakcí a objem přes 110 000 USD prostřednictvím GoPlausible. Algorand Foundation k tomu spustila Global x402 Challenge pro vývojáře na mainnetu.
@Algorand's x402 integration is generating real on-chain activity, with more than 160,000 transactions and over $110,000 in volume settled through the GoPlausible facilitator. The numbers underscore growing developer interest in the pay-per-request standard, which was originally built for Base but is now finding a foothold on Algorand.
What is x402 and why does Algorand fit? x402 is an open protocol that embeds payment logic directly into HTTP requests. Originally developed by Coinbase, it enables AI agents and services to transact per call without API keys or billing infrastructure. Algorand's low fees, instant finality, and deterministic execution model allow HTTP payment requests to pair with on-chain settlement without breaking synchronous request-response patterns, making x402 practical not just as a concept but as an internet-native payment mechanism that can operate at scale.
Built by Coinbase around the HTTP 402 status code, the x402 protocol enables users to pay for resources via API without registration, emails, OAuth, or complex signatures, with Algorand support provided by the Algorand Foundation and GoPlausible.
Global x402 Challenge: what is at stake The Algorand Foundation launched the Global x402 Challenge, a five-month competition for developers building x402-powered, pay-per-request API services on Algorand mainnet. The top five finalists share $100,000 USD, with an additional 500,000 ALGO split across the top 20 endpoints on the leaderboard.
To enter, developers must deploy a paid x402 endpoint on Algorand Mainnet. Usage is tracked automatically via the GoPlausible facilitator on a public leaderboard, and the top 50 qualify for 10 finalist spots who will present live, in-person or virtually, at Devcon 8 India. Registration closes at 11:45 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on September 1, 2026.
The @AlgoFoundation is also hosting a Reddit AMA on the competition this Thursday, August 6, giving developers a direct line to the team behind the challenge. The competition follows a busy run of builder events: the Algorand Builders Berlin: Agentic Commerce x402 Hackathon in June drew more than 100 builders for a 36-hour sprint, with winning projects ranging from an agentic trust layer for regulated finance to a peer-to-peer energy market where an EV agent settles solar power purchases in real time.
Projects will be evaluated on real usage, use case quality, technical execution, and long-term potential. For builders still exploring ideas, the Algorand developer pages outline use cases including paid data access, autonomous agent tooling, and usage-based billing across microservices.
Sources
Algorand Foundation: Global x402 Challenge official page
Crypto Reporter: Algorand Foundation Launches Global x402 Challenge
Algorand Blog: x402, Unlocking the Agentic Commerce Era
Organizace CGAP spojená se Světovou bankou uvedla, že stablecoiny na sítích Stellar a Algorand pomáhají v humanitární pomoci. Jako příklady zmínila Súdán, Ukrajinu a Afghánistán.
A recent report from CGAP, a think tank associated with the World Bank, has turned the spotlight onto the use of stablecoins in international humanitarian aid. The report, frequently discussed by prominent crypto commentator All In Crypto, features real-world cases where Stellar- and Algorand-based platforms facilitate digital cash transfers in challenging regions.
Stablecoins in humanitarian relief effortsCGAP’s research investigates whether stablecoins can assist non-profit organizations in moving money across borders, particularly when traditional correspondent banks are slow, costly, or outright inaccessible. The analysis identifies a range of technical and regulatory barriers, including high transaction fees, lack of transparency in foreign exchange rates, delays of several days in payments, and the withdrawal of banks from jurisdictions labeled high-risk.
The report notes that stablecoins transact on blockchain networks, with the choice of network directly affecting costs, speed, and service availability. Stellar is highlighted as a blockchain supporting USDC, while both Stellar and Algorand are specifically identified as preferred low-fee networks in humanitarian cash transfer programs.
Field cases: Stellar and Algorand in actionIn Sudan, the Norwegian Refugee Council used KoalaPay, a digital payments platform, to distribute USDC—a major dollar-pegged stablecoin—to local partners handling aid disbursement. According to All In Crypto’s summary, KoalaPay runs on both Stellar and Base networks, with local organizations converting USDC into Sudanese pounds before transferring money to aid recipients.
A separate Ukraine initiative, launched in December 2022, relied on Stellar’s Aid Assist platform, MoneyGram, and self-managed digital wallets. This program delivered $4.6 million to more than 2,500 households during its first two years of operation.
CGAP described how, in Ukraine, digital stablecoin payments on Stellar and integration with major remittance networks enabled fast, traceable transactions to recipients in a highly volatile market.
Meanwhile, Algorand features in the Afghanistan-based case managed by Mercy Corps and HesabPay, a platform that sent a stablecoin denominated in afghani, the local currency, to users’ wallets. HesabPay allows recipients to receive digital funds directly, even in environments with limited banking infrastructure.
Mini dictionary: CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) is a global partnership housed at the World Bank, focused on advancing financial inclusion in developing economies by researching digital financial services and innovative technologies.
CountryPlatformBlockchain UtilizedStablecoinImplementation PartnerReported ImpactSudanKoalaPayStellar, BaseUSDCNorwegian Refugee CouncilFunds converted to Sudanese pounds, distributed to local recipientsUkraineAid Assist, MoneyGramStellarUSDC (via wallets)Multiple partners$4.6M to 2,500 householdsAfghanistanHesabPayAlgorandAfghani-denominated stablecoinMercy CorpsDirect-to-recipient stablecoin aid deliveryChallenges remain for digital aid solutionsWhile CGAP affirms that stablecoins can enhance traceability and expand market access for cross-border aid, the report cautions that familiar hurdles remain. Currency exchange, cash withdrawal, and compliance all present continued challenges, even when on-chain transaction costs are negligible. The expense and availability of off-ramps—services that allow recipients to convert digital assets into local currency—still pose operational difficulties.
Another warning from CGAP is that direct-to-recipient models could shift foreign exchange risk, withdrawal fees, and digital literacy requirements to aid recipients. These risks are particularly significant for vulnerable populations in regions with limited access to merchant networks or digital infrastructure.
CGAP emphasizes that while blockchain-based transfers may cut transaction fees, practical access and inclusion barriers can persist in fragile environments where alternatives are scarce.
Stellar is an open-source blockchain designed for fast, low-cost cross-border payments and is widely used by financial institutions and non-profits for currency transfers. Algorand, launched in 2019, offers high-speed and scalable decentralized finance solutions and operates with a unique pure proof-of-stake protocol.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Coinbaseův Quantum Advisory Council označil Aptos a Algorand za sítě nejlépe připravené na éru po kvantových počítačích. U Aptosu vyzdvihl hlavně crypto-agility a možnost změnit podpisové schéma v jedné transakci.
On April 21, 2026, Coinbase’s Quantum Advisory Council released a position paper naming Aptos and Algorand as the two blockchain networks best positioned to handle the cryptographic challenges that quantum computers will eventually bring. Its advisory group includes Scott Aaronson from UT Austin and Dan Boneh from Stanford University, two of the most cited names in cryptography and quantum computing research.
What makes Aptos different here Most networks today secure wallets using elliptic curve cryptography. A sufficiently powerful quantum computer could, in theory, reverse-engineer private keys from public ones.
Aptos was built with this transition in mind from day one. Launched in 2022, it runs on the Move programming language and uses a modular cryptographic infrastructure. If Aptos needs to swap out its signature scheme, it can do that in a single transaction without asking users to create new accounts or move their assets anywhere.
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The Coinbase council’s paper specifically highlighted this crypto-agility as Aptos’s central advantage. Crypto-agility means a system’s ability to swap cryptographic primitives without disrupting the broader network.
In December 2025, the network proposed integrating SLH-DSA, a post-quantum signature scheme that has been formally standardized by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Algorand’s approach and why the council cited both Algorand earned its spot in the paper through a different but complementary set of choices. The network has implemented Falcon signatures within its State Proofs, and it offers native key rotation as a built-in feature. Falcon is a lattice-based cryptographic scheme, which is one of the algorithm families that NIST has identified as resistant to quantum attacks.
Researchers from the Ethereum Foundation were also listed among the advisory council’s contributors.
What this means for the market The council’s paper is explicit that immediate threats are not imminent. The point is about preparation time horizons, specifically that the window between “quantum computers become theoretically capable” and “quantum computers become practically deployable” may be shorter than the time required to retrofit major blockchain networks.
Being named in a paper co-authored by cryptographers from Stanford and UT Austin, distributed under Coinbase’s advisory brand, is a different category of validation than a marketing announcement or a partnership press release.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Algorand za poslední čtvrtletí zaznamenal více než 1,8 milionu nových nasazení chytrých kontraktů, což znamená růst aktivity o 25,7 %. Aktivita vývojářů roste, i když cena ALGO zůstává kolem 0,08 USD.
Algorand quietly racked up over 1.8 million new smart contract deployments in the past quarter, a 25.7% increase in activity that puts the Layer 1 blockchain in a peculiar position. Developer interest is clearly climbing. The token price, not so much.
The contract deployment surge, tracked by Token Terminal, represents a meaningful acceleration for a network that many crypto observers had written off during the bear market doldrums. For context, Algorand’s January 2026 Algo Insights Report showed 808,000 smart contracts deployed at that point, marking a 31.5% increase at the time.
The numbers behind the builder boom On-chain asset creation on Algorand surged 239% month-over-month, according to the Algorand Foundation’s own evaluation. Contract deployments specifically grew 47% in a recent monthly period.
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The most tangible proof point might be Lofty AI, a real estate tokenization platform built on Algorand. As of early July 2026, Lofty crossed $100 million in total value locked. That’s capital flowing into tokenized real-world assets.
Active wallet growth and transaction volumes have also increased alongside the contract deployment numbers.
The quantum play The Algorand Foundation published a formal roadmap for post-quantum cryptography in June 2026, setting a target of comprehensive quantum resistance by the end of 2027. The initiative builds on work that started back in 2022.
The price disconnect investors should watch ALGO currently trades around $0.08. The disconnect between on-chain activity and token price isn’t unique to Algorand, but the gap here is particularly stark given that contract deployments more than doubled since January, asset creation exploded by 239%, a major DApp hit $100M in TVL, and the foundation is executing on a multi-year quantum security roadmap.
Algorand’s tokenomics have faced criticism over the years regarding early investor unlocks and foundation distributions, which may be suppressing price appreciation even as fundamentals improve. The real-world asset tokenization angle gives Algorand a differentiated narrative, with Lofty AI’s $100M TVL milestone as concrete evidence. Ethereum, Avalanche, and Polygon are all aggressively courting the RWA sector.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Algorand zveřejnil plán přechodu na kvantově odolnou infrastrukturu: nativní postkvantové účty má spustit ve 3. čtvrtletí 2026 a plné odolnosti chce dosáhnout do konce roku 2027.
@Algorand has given the clearest timeline yet for its shift to quantum-resistant infrastructure, laying out a staged roadmap that runs from mid-2026 through to the protocol's consensus layer.
What the roadmap covers The Algorand Foundation plans to introduce post-quantum accounts, multisignature wallets, and staking support starting in 2026, before expanding protections to core protocol components. According to the Foundation's published roadmap, native post-quantum accounts are targeted for the Q3 2026 protocol release, with quantum-safe multisig and Falcon-512 support due by year-end. The consensus layer upgrade is slated to follow in a later phase.
The Foundation said its roadmap builds on work it began in 2022, with the goal of achieving broad quantum resilience by the end of 2027. It expects to reach that milestone before NIST retires certain legacy cryptographic standards, and three years ahead of a timeline set by the U.S. National Security Agency for national security systems.
Securing the consensus layer is the hardest step, as it requires research into a post-quantum replacement for the Verifiable Random Function at the heart of Algorand's Pure Proof-of-Stake protocol. The Foundation has been open about this gap, framing it as a multi-year research and engineering challenge rather than a near-term fix.
Google's endorsement and what Algorand has already shipped In March 2026, Google Quantum AI published a whitepaper showing that future quantum computers may break elliptic curve cryptography with fewer resources than previously thought, and cited Algorand among blockchains that have deployed post-quantum cryptography in practice. The paper established that the threshold for breaking blockchain signatures is roughly 20 times lower than prior estimates, adding urgency to migration timelines across the industry. It described Algorand as "an example of real-world deployment of PQC on an otherwise quantum-vulnerable blockchain."
Algorand chose Falcon, a lattice-based scheme, because it guarantees post-quantum security while remaining aligned with the network's design principles around performance and decentralization. Algorand executed its first PQC-secured transaction in 2025. It has since deployed post-quantum Falcon digital signatures for smart transactions and state proofs, which are cryptographic attestations of blockchain state used for cross-chain integrations. Algorand notes that migrating live blockchain infrastructure to post-quantum cryptography will take years and must begin well before "Q-Day."
Sources
Algorand Foundation: Post-Quantum Technology Overview
Algorand Foundation: Google Quantum AI Whitepaper Cites Algorand
CoinDesk: Algorand Unveils Roadmap for Post-Quantum Security by End-2027
