Quantum Development: An Engineer’s Preparation Checklist

1

Audit and Remove ECDSA/Schnorr Signatures

A 2024 Chainalysis report shows 40% of blockchain projects rely on ECDSA or Schnorr signatures, which Shor’s algorithm could break in minutes on a cryptanalytically relevant quantum computer (CRQC). 

This is not optional, while over 4 million Bitcoin (25% of supply) sit in exposed addresses, per Chainalysis.

☐ Conduct a full codebase audit, identify these signatures, and phase them out. 

☐ Replace them with temporary alternatives like SHA-384 until PQC is viable.

[6–8 weeks]

2

Test PQC Performance with Open Quantum Safe

Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) is your next step, but it comes with trade-offs. Open Quantum Safe’s benchmarks reveal PQC signatures, such as ML-DSA (Dilithium), are 100 times slower than ECDSA, adding 50–100ms to API latency. 

Early Kyber implementations failed in 2% of decryption cases, per NIST’s 2024 study, so prioritize ML-DSA for signatures. Expect performance hits and plan optimizations.

☐ Use Quantum Safe’s tools to test algorithms like ML-KEM (Kyber) in a sandbox.

[4-6 weeks]

3

Avoid Over-Reliance on Hybrid PQC

Hybrid PQC, mixing ECC with PQC like Kyber, is tempting but risky. It is often a stopgap. NIST’s ML-KEM showed decryption issues in early tests. 

☐ Evaluate hybrids cautiously, focusing on standalone PQC where possible. 

☐ Run stress tests to ensure your chain handles the added complexity without crashing under load.

[3-5 weeks]

1

Integrate ML-DSA and Plan for Crypto-Agility

NIST’s FN-DSA (Falcon) was scrapped in 2024 for complexity, but ML-DSA (Dilithium) is a NIST-standardized winner.  This is critical, as NIST may shift standards by 2028. 

☐ Integrate it for signatures, as Baron Chain’s 2024 Kyber768-X25519 hybrid added 300ms to consensus, making it unacceptable for high-frequency chains. 

☐ Build crypto-agility, modular systems that swap algorithms without a full overhaul.

☐ Try to use frameworks like Rust’s pqcrypto to prototype.

[18-24 months]

2

Simulate Quantum Threats with Qiskit

Qiskit simulations from 2024 suggest AI-optimized Shor’s algorithms could crack 256-bit ECC by 2030, beating NIST’s 2035 CRQC timeline. This is not theoretical; $2 trillion in crypto assets are at stake, per market estimates.

☐ Set up a quantum threat model using Qiskit (qiskit.org) or Google’s Cirq. 

☐ Simulate attacks on your ECC-based smart contracts or wallets to identify weak points.

[12-18 months]

3

Optimize for PQC Latency

PQC’s performance drag is real. Baron Chain’s 300ms consensus delay is a warning. 

☐ Try to run load tests with ML-DSA and Kyber on your testnet, targeting sub-100ms latency for high-throughput chains. 

☐ Explore hardware acceleration (e.g., Intel’s AVX-512) to offset slowdowns. 

☐ Document trade-offs, as latency spikes could alienate users or traders.

[15-20 months]

1

Integrate ML-DSA and Plan for Crypto-Agility

NIST’s FN-DSA (Falcon) was scrapped in 2024 for complexity, but ML-DSA (Dilithium) is a NIST-standardized winner. This is critical, as NIST may shift standards by 2028. 

☐ Integrate ML-DSA for signatures, as Baron Chain’s 2024 Kyber768-X25519 hybrid added 300ms to consensus, making it unacceptable for high-frequency chains. 

☐ Build agile, modular systems that swap algorithms without a full overhaul. 

☐ Try to use frameworks like Rust’s pqcrypto to prototype.

[24-36 months]

2

Scale for PQC Data Bloat

Quantum-resistant ledgers like QRL use XMSS signatures, which consume 1MB per transaction. Ethereum’s 100KB block size struggles with that load. This is not premature; QRL’s approach is live, and others will follow by 2030.

☐ Stress-test your layer-1 for PQC scalability, aiming for 10x current capacity. 

☐ Optimize storage with techniques like Merkle trees or sharding. 

[36-48 months]

3

Design for NIST’s Evolving Standards

NIST’s ML-KEM-512 may be deprecated by 2026 for larger parameter sets, per their 2024 roadmap. 

☐ Build systems that pivot to new algorithms without hard forks. 

☐ Use upgradable smart contracts and consensus layers, tested quarterly. 

☐ Crypto-agility is your buffer against surprises, be sure to plan for a 2028 standards shift.

[30-42 months]

4

Audit AI-Generated PQC Code Rigorously

A 2024 ArXiv study found 90% of “quantum-safe” projects skip auditing AI-generated PQC code. GitHub Copilot introduced fatal Kyber flaws in three of ten reviewed projects, like key-leaking buffer overflows. 

☐ Mandate human reviews with tools like SonarQube for every PQC implementation. AI’s “vibe-coding,” mimicking patterns without logic, is a liability, so make sure you catch it early.

[24-36 months]