Ripple Maps 2028 Deadline To Protect XRP Ledger From Credible Quantum Threats

TLDR

• Ripple set a 2028 deadline to make the XRP Ledger resistant to quantum attacks.
• Ripple said the quantum threat to blockchain cryptography is now credible, not theoretical.
• XRPL key rotation gives users a path to change exposed keys without moving assets.
• ML-DSA quantum-safe signatures have already been deployed on XRPL AlphaNet.
• Ripple plans Devnet testing in late 2026 before any wider XRPL transition steps.

Ripple has set a 2028 deadline to quantum-proof the XRP Ledger. The company said the risk has moved from theoretical to credible. The plan places XRPL among the first major networks with a public post-quantum timeline.

The roadmap comes as concern grows over “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks. In this model, attackers collect data today and wait for stronger quantum machines. Ripple said long-held accounts face the most risk because public keys appear onchain after signed transactions.

Ripple sets a 2028 deadline for XRP Ledger security

Ripple said its post-quantum work will follow a four-phase roadmap through 2028. The company framed the move as a response to a credible security risk. It said blockchain systems can no longer treat quantum threats as a distant issue.

The company’s cryptography team includes Dr. Murat Cenk and Dr. Tamas Visegrady. Their work focuses on protecting XRPL accounts from future key exposure. That concern is tied to signed transactions that reveal public keys onchain.

Ripple said one attack path already matters today. Adversaries can store encrypted data now and wait for better quantum hardware later. This is the “harvest now, decrypt later” problem discussed in current security research.

The company said emergency steps are part of Phase 1. If classical cryptography fails early, XRPL could stop accepting traditional signatures. Ripple is also studying post-quantum zero-knowledge proofs for account migration.

XRPL has tools that may support a smoother migration

Ripple said XRPL already supports native key rotation at the account level. That allows users to replace old keys without changing accounts. It also lets them keep assets in place during a security upgrade.

This design differs from many other blockchains. On some networks, users may need added tools or broader account changes. Ripple said XRPL’s current setup gives holders a practical migration path.

The ledger also uses seed-based key generation. That system supports deterministic creation of new keys. Ripple said this is useful for any broad cryptographic transition across the network.

The company said these features do not solve the full problem by themselves. Still, they can reduce friction during a move to quantum-safe signatures. That may matter for wallets, custodians, and long-term holders.

Ripple outlines 2026 testing before broader rollout

Ripple said Phase 2 will take place in the first half of 2026. That stage will focus on risk assessment across the network. It will also review storage, bandwidth, and performance costs.

Core engineer Denis Angell has already deployed ML-DSA signatures on XRPL AlphaNet. Ripple said the network is also working with Project Eleven. The partnership is aimed at validator testing and a custody wallet prototype.

Phase 3 is planned for the second half of 2026. Ripple said candidate post-quantum signature schemes will be added on Devnet. That would allow developers to test them beside current elliptic curve signatures.

The company is also examining post-quantum tools for zero-knowledge proofs and homomorphic encryption. These tools matter for private features on XRPL. Ripple said users with large and long-term holdings should watch for migration tools through 2026 and 2027.

Ripple linked the roadmap to a broader change in security planning. It said the threat is now “credible” rather than theoretical. XRP traded at $1.42 on April 20, down about 1% in 24 hours, with a market cap of $87.56 billion.

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