Starknet launches a seven-day non-binding Snapshot vote on October 15, 2026 to research transitioning from an Ethereum Layer 2 to an independent, quantum-resistant Layer 1 blockchain. StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson targets complete quantum resistance by 2027, contrasting Ethereum's 2029 schedule. Over 99% of early votes support the proposal, driving a 25% STRK price jump despite a concurrent 127-million token unlock.
Governance vote on L1 research
- ▪On October 15, 2026, Starknet initiated a seven-day non-binding governance vote on Snapshot asking STRK holders whether to research transitioning from an Ethereum Layer 2 to an independent Layer 1 blockchain, where 'Yes' does not trigger immediate network migration
- ▪The Starknet Snapshot poll, launched October 15, 2026, offers voters three choices: approve funding further research into becoming an independent Layer 1, oppose further research, or remain neutral pending additional information
- ▪Early voting on Starknet's October 15, 2026 Layer 1 governance proposal showed over 99% of cast voting power supporting research into transitioning to an independent Layer 1 blockchain
STRK market impact and token unlock
- ▪During the week after Eli Ben-Sasson's and Starknet's October 8, 2026 X posts regarding Layer 1 plans, the STRK token rose over 80% to $0.126 on October 11, 2026 before adjusting to $0.078 on October 15, 2026
- ▪Following the October 15, 2026 Starknet Layer 1 proposal launch, the STRK token price surged 25% at one point, with daily futures trading volume reaching $894.84 million versus $116.38 million in spot volume
- ▪The October 15, 2026 Starknet governance vote launch coincided with a scheduled unlock of 127 million STRK tokens for early investors
Quantum timeline and Ethereum dependence
- ▪StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson cited rapid advancements in artificial intelligence as accelerating quantum computing threats to encryption, making fast quantum-proofing necessary for crypto
- ▪StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson argued that operating as an Ethereum Layer 2 leaves Starknet dependent on Ethereum's upgrade schedule for quantum readiness
- ▪In March 2026, Ethereum protocol developers established a dedicated post-quantum development team to plan protocol-level protections
- ▪StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson stated that Starknet aims to become a fully quantum-resistant network by 2027, whereas Ethereum developers target initial protocol-level protections by 2029
Starknet post-quantum capabilities and roadmap
- ▪Starknet already utilizes hash-based STARK proofs and native account abstraction, enabling accounts to adopt post-quantum signatures without requiring a protocol upgrade
- ▪StarkWare unveiled a three-phase post-quantum roadmap for Starknet in June 2026, covering signature upgrades, smart-contract migration, and replacing Ethereum-dependent cryptography
Infrastructure and network security trade-offs
- ▪Transitioning to a standalone Layer 1 would require Starknet to maintain its own network security backed by the market capitalization of STRK, which stood at $580.24 million on October 15, 2026
- ▪Starknet's bridge to Ethereum and Starknet's data availability layer remain tied to Ethereum's underlying infrastructure and upgrade schedule
- ▪Under any governance vote outcome, STRK will remain Starknet's native token without introducing a new asset, and cross-chain bridges between Starknet and Ethereum will remain open
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