Starknet has opened a non-binding governance poll on researching an independent, post-quantum blockchain, with voting closing on Oct. 22. The proposal concerns control over its security roadmap, but approval would not authorize a departure from Ethereum settlement.
A research mandate, not approval to leave Ethereum
Starknet is asking STRK holders whether to investigate becoming an independent layer-1 blockchain rather than remain dependent on Ethereum’s quantum-security timetable. According to Cointelegraph’s report, the Ethereum layer-2 network opened a non-binding poll on Thursday, with support for research, opposition and neutrality available as voting choices.
The seven-day voting period ends on Oct. 22, and results are due afterwards. A favorable result would indicate support for investigation rather than permission to change the network’s settlement arrangements. Cointelegraph reported that additional proposals and governance votes would be necessary before a transition could proceed.
That distinction defines the immediate significance for holders and project teams. The decision being put to voters is whether to explore a different architecture, not whether to execute an already approved migration. No timetable for becoming an independent layer-1 network has been announced.
Ethereum dependencies sit at the center of the proposal
StarkWare, the developer behind Starknet, says independence could let the network pursue quantum-resistant security without waiting for Ethereum’s upgrade schedule, according to Cointelegraph. The report identifies Starknet’s bridge and data availability among the Ethereum-dependent infrastructure that StarkWare regards as remaining quantum-security dependencies.
The issue therefore extends beyond the cryptography used within Starknet itself. A network can pursue changes to its own security design while still relying on external infrastructure whose upgrade decisions it does not control. Whether independence is the appropriate response to those dependencies is the research question now before the community.
StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson framed quantum protection as urgent in comments to Cointelegraph and contrasted that urgency with his assessment of progress at Ethereum and Bitcoin. That comparison is his characterization of their pace, rather than an independently established finding that either network’s plans are inadequate.
Separate roadmaps explain the timing debate
The governance poll follows earlier public signals about the proposal. Cointelegraph reported that Ben-Sasson and Starknet discussed the idea in separate X posts on Oct. 8, presenting an ambition to achieve full quantum resistance by 2027. That ambition should not be confused with an announced schedule for an independent chain.
In June, StarkWare introduced a three-phase roadmap addressing quantum resistance. Its scope included signature changes, migration of smart contracts and infrastructure tied to Ethereum, according to Cointelegraph. Those categories show why the discussion involves applications and settlement dependencies as well as cryptographic upgrades.
Cointelegraph also reported that Ethereum developers formed a dedicated post-quantum team in March, targeting initial protocol-level protections by 2029. The milestones describe different scopes: Starknet’s stated ambition concerns full network resistance, while Ethereum’s target concerns initial protections. They are not directly interchangeable measures of completion.
The reports agree on scope but add different details
According to The Block, STRK holders have seven days to vote on whether Starknet should investigate operating as a standalone layer-1 blockchain with post-quantum security. Its account establishes the opening of the vote and its research focus, without adding implementation details.
The Defiant adds that STRK stakers and delegators have a say in the poll. It also emphasizes that leaving Ethereum settlement would require a separate governance process. That procedural qualification is consistent with Cointelegraph’s description of the vote as non-binding.
Cointelegraph contributes the voting choices, closing date, infrastructure dependencies and earlier roadmap announcements. Read together, the accounts describe an exploratory governance step rather than an approved exit. Their differences concern the amount of detail reported, not conflicting accounts of what the poll authorizes.
Application teams face an architectural debate
The practical significance for builders is the possibility of a future change in the infrastructure supporting their applications. StarkWare’s roadmap already includes smart-contract migration, while the independence proposal addresses Ethereum-linked dependencies. Neither point establishes the technical requirements of any eventual transition.
Ethereum’s wider application footprint gives the settlement discussion relevance beyond token governance. DefiLlama places Ethereum’s decentralized-finance total value locked at $49.16 billion. That measure describes activity on Ethereum, not funds committed to Starknet or assets that would move if the research eventually produced a transition proposal.
For teams browsing new Ethereum token listings, the useful distinction is between ecosystem affiliation and a specific project’s infrastructure dependencies. A listing does not establish exposure to Starknet’s governance decision. Assessing relevance requires checking whether an application actually depends on the network or the infrastructure under discussion.
The next milestone is a result, followed by possible proposals
The immediate event to watch is publication of the poll outcome after Oct. 22. Support would give further research a community signal, but it would leave the eventual architecture and authorization process unresolved. Opposition or neutrality would also be expressions on the research question rather than decisions on a completed migration plan.
Any subsequent proposals would need to clarify how independence would address the dependencies StarkWare has identified. Technical scope, smart-contract implications and the relationship to Ethereum settlement remain matters for that future process. The current reports establish a debate over security autonomy, not a settled implementation.
Market snapshot
| Asset | Price | 24h | 7d | Market cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin (BTC) | $82,195 | +0.4% | -0.4% | $1.65 trillion |
| Ethereum (ETH) | $2,422 | -0.7% | -5.0% | $295.83 billion |
CoinGecko data as of 2026-10-15 (UTC); DeFi TVL from DefiLlama: Ethereum $49.16 billion.
On Coinvote
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FAQ
Does Starknet’s vote authorize leaving Ethereum?
No. The poll is non-binding and asks whether to support research into an independent post-quantum blockchain. A transition would require further proposals and governance votes.
When does the Starknet quantum-security poll close?
Voting closes on Oct. 22, with results published afterwards, according to Cointelegraph. Participants can support research, oppose it or remain neutral pending further information.
Why is Starknet considering an independent blockchain?
StarkWare says independence could reduce reliance on Ethereum’s quantum-security upgrade schedule. It identifies Ethereum-dependent infrastructure, including Starknet’s bridge and data availability, as remaining security dependencies.
Sources
- The Block: Starknet opens seven-day vote on independent Layer 1 over quantum risks (2026-10-15)
- The Defiant: Starknet Puts Independent L1 Research to a Community Vote (2026-10-15)
- Cointelegraph: Starknet opens vote on potential Ethereum L2 exit over quantum risks (2026-10-15)
- CoinGecko (market data), DefiLlama (TVL), Coinvote listing and vote data
Written by the Coinvote news desk from reporting by The Block, The Defiant and Cointelegraph. Not financial advice.
