93.52% of Voting Power Backs Starknet Study of Independence from Ethereum
Key Facts
A total of 93.52% of voting power backed beginning research into a path to turn Starknet into an independent Layer 1 network, according to poll results announced by the Starknet forum on October 22, 2026. The poll closed after the foundation put it forward to gauge opinion on a research process, not to decide on the transition itself. The forum stressed that the vote “does not approve Starknet’s transition to Layer 1.” It said formal approval for any shift would be sought after the research and design phases are complete. The network will therefore begin studying its technical and governance options, while its current status remains in place until a separate decision is made.
The issue began with an announcement by the Starknet Foundation on October 8 that the network was studying becoming an independent, quantum-resistant Layer 1 network. A week later, the non-binding poll on starting the research opened, before its supporting result emerged on October 22. StarkWare described participation as the highest in Starknet governance history and said the company abstained from voting. The mandate produced by the result is limited to exploring the design and technical path, and does not authorize the company or foundation to carry out the transition. If the findings of the joint work support continuing along this path, more detailed proposals could be put forward and further votes held.
One technical issue centers on Starknet’s reliance on Ethereum for its bridge and data availability, two elements that tie the network’s security to the base layer’s capabilities and upgrade schedule. The Starknet forum said “the limit is what Starknet inherits from Ethereum, including its bridge and data availability.” This reliance means that strengthening parts of Starknet alone does not settle the full post-quantum security path as long as these functions depend on Ethereum. StarkWare previously published a three-phase roadmap for quantum resistance, explaining that the third phase would move in parallel with Ethereum’s work because of this link. The proposed research therefore addresses the limits of what can be changed within Starknet and what requires coordination with the base layer.
Starknet, by contrast, says some features of its design allow elements of its ecosystem to be upgraded without a comprehensive protocol change. STARK proofs rely on hash functions, while programmable accounts can adopt new signature schemes without a protocol upgrade, according to the community forum. StarkWare aims to achieve full post-quantum security for the network by 2027, while Ethereum aims for broader quantum resistance by 2029. Eli Ben-Sasson described Ethereum’s target as lagging Starknet’s ambition, which he presents as a bid to be the “first fully quantum-resistant” network. The comparison remains tied to scope: Ethereum’s goal covers the execution, consensus and data layers, while Starknet’s full security also depends on the bridge and data availability it inherits from Ethereum.
The Ethereum Foundation set December 2029 as its target for making Layer 1 quantum-resistant across execution, consensus and data. The foundation said the deadline is self-imposed and non-negotiable until January 2027, when it will reassess progress with advice from external experts. Ethereum acknowledges that a cryptography-breaking quantum computer is not imminent, but says moving a decentralized global protocol to new cryptography requires years of coordination, engineering and formal verification. This places Starknet’s research within a broader challenge that goes beyond choosing a signature scheme to include compatibility and testing of the network’s components. It also explains why research is beginning before any final change is approved.
Under the published proposal, STRK would remain the network’s native token if the transition is approved, there are no plans to issue a new token, and existing bridges between Starknet and Ethereum would remain open. These are elements of the proposal, not arrangements in effect, because the transition has not received formal approval. Research is set to begin now through a joint working group of StarkWare and the Starknet Foundation, which will publish its findings on the governance forum. StarkWare’s chief executive said the company hopes to publish a draft white paper for public review in November 2026. After the research and design are complete, the decision will return to governance through a formal vote on any proposed transition.