Circle's Arc blockchain will offer quantum-resistant wallet options when it reaches mainnet, the company said, enabling users to choose signing methods designed to withstand future quantum-computer attacks.
The move positions Arc differently from legacy chains that may need later patches to address quantum threats, a concern amplified by recent analysis of quantum risks to major blockchains and ongoing industry work on fixes.
Arc said in an update, "At mainnet, Arc will introduce a post-quantum signature scheme, giving users a practical design path to create quantum-resistant wallets." The update did not set a mainnet date. Arc began a testnet in October and uses Circle's dollar-pegged stablecoin USDC as the native currency for gas fees; USDC's market cap is around $77.5 billion, the update said.
The company said in an announcement its roadmap extends beyond wallet keys to protect private balances, confidential payments and recipient information with quantum-resistant cryptography. Mid-term work will address infrastructure backdoors such as cloud servers, hardware security modules and encrypted node connections. Arc's design finalizes blocks in under a second, reducing the window for a quantum attacker to derive keys and forge signatures.
Arc said validator-focused upgrades are planned after "rigorous performance testing and the necessary tooling support are in place" to preserve both resilience and network performance, indicating hardening will follow readiness rather than a fixed timeline.
The recap
- Arc will offer a post-quantum signature scheme at mainnet launch.
- USDC is the native gas currency on Arc's testnet.
- Validator signature hardening planned after performance testing and tooling.