The company Ripple has revealed a multi-phase plan to prepare the XRP Ledger (XRPL) for the era of quantum computing. The network is expected to be fully ready for new threats by 2028.

Post-quantum readiness on XRP Ledger (XRPL) is not a single upgrade. It is a fundamental architectural shift in how digital assets are secured over the long term. This transition will impact key management, validator infrastructure, and how users interact with the network.

We…

— J. Ayo Akinyele (@ja_akinyele) April 20, 2026

According to the roadmap, XRPL will transition to quantum-resistant cryptography in four phases.

Developers emphasized that while the threat is not immediate, practical steps are necessary due to the acceleration of research in this technology. The key risk is the "harvest now, decrypt later" scenario, where attackers collect encrypted data today to decrypt it in the future using quantum computers.

Transition Process

The plan involves parallel efforts in two directions: gradual migration and an emergency scenario in case of Q-day (the day classical cryptography is compromised):

  • Emergency readiness: the network will be able to forcibly transfer users' funds to addresses with a secure format in case current algorithms are compromised; 
  • Testing and integration (H1 2026): implementation of quantum-resistant signatures alongside current transaction processing mechanisms in testnets;
  • Controlled transition (H1 2026): exploration of new primitives, including zero-knowledge proofs and homomorphic encryption;
  • Full migration (target — 2028): transitioning the entire network to new standards by 2028.

“In the final stage, the task goes beyond cryptography and focuses more on ensuring that we do not disrupt the existing mechanisms of XRPL. This will require careful work and coordination with ecosystem partners,” the developers noted.

Features of XRPL

Ripple believes that XRPL has several architectural advantages for transitioning to the post-quantum era. The blockchain provides:

  • support for key rotation without changing accounts;
  • deterministic key generation from a seed phrase;
  • the ability to update cryptography at the protocol level.

These features simplify migration compared to other platforms (e.g., Ethereum), where users may need to transfer assets to new addresses.

Recall that in March, the Ripple team announced enhancements to XRPL security using artificial intelligence.