Key Points

• Starknet Voters overwhelmingly support research on independent blockchain solutions
• Quantum security concerns are prompting them to consider separating from Ethereum.
• The November white paper may outline cost and technical requirements.

As one of Ethereum's mature Layer 2 scale-out networks, Starknet has received overwhelming support from the community and has begun to explore becoming an independent blockchain. This move may ultimately end its reliance on Ethereum's security infrastructure.

The governance vote that concluded on October 22 showed that 93.52% of the voting rights supported the research of an independent, quantum-resistant Layer chain, with a total of 3,236 votes recorded.

According to the official announcement of Starknet Foundation, this result authorizes StarkWare and that foundation to conduct research on the proposal, but it does not equate to approval to move away from Ethereum. Any transition will still require another round of governance processes.

This decision comes at a time when Ethereum itself is also re-evaluating the role of its network scaling efforts. Previously, Vitalik Buterin had criticized Layer 2.

Why Starknet is considering leaving Ethereum

Starknet currently processes transactions independently of Ethereum, but still relies on the main chain for important security and settlement functions.

Its cryptographic architecture uses STARK as proof and relies on hash-based technologies, which is considered promising for post-quantum security. Programmable accounts can also support alternative signature schemes.

However, the network still relies on Ethereum to provide data availability and bridging infrastructure.

This brings a tricky limitation: Starknet can upgrade its own system, but it is not able to independently enable the Ethereum infrastructure at the underlying level with quantum-resistant capabilities.

The foundation mentioned that Ethereum plans to achieve underlying quantum-resistant protection by December 2029. StarkWare hopes that Starknet can achieve quantum security by 2027.

For a project that in its early stages focused on " Quantum Leap " upgrades to enable faster Ethereum scaling, this represents a major shift.

Starknet has also extended to Bitcoin staking, indicating that its ambitions have surpassed the traditional scope of Ethereum transactions.

What will Starknet lose if it becomes independent?

Operating as an independent blockchain will give Starknet greater control over the upgrade schedule, but it will also bring new responsibilities.

It needs to establish its own consensus mechanism, validator incentives, economic security, and guarantees of transaction finality, rather than relying on Ethereum's existing settlement infrastructure.

These issues are particularly important because Ethereum’s Layer 2 network now handles the vast majority of transactions within the ecosystem.

Recent online data shows that the expanded network has processed approximately 94% of Ethereum ecosystem transactions, highlighting its importance to the broader blockchain economy.

If Starknet were to flee, it would once again ignite the long-standing competition between Layer 1 and Layer 2. In the past, there have been public confrontations between Solana and Starknet due to this very reason.

However, independence does not necessarily mean giving up Ethereum users or liquidity.

StarkWare indicates that STRK will still be a native network token, and no alternative token will be launched. The Ethereum bridge will also continue to be maintained.

What will happen to Starknet and STRK next?

StarkWare and Starknet Foundation will now establish a joint research effort to assess technical requirements, economic trade-offs, and the impact on developers.

StarkWare Chief Executive Officer Eli Ben - Sasson It is expected that the draft white paper will be made available for public review in November. If the research supports this transition, there will be further governance proposals thereafter.

The company's previous ambitions in Bitcoin scaling indicate that its strategy is no longer limited to Ethereum alone.