Stellar Development Foundation, the organization behind the open-source payment network Stellar, has announced a major protocol upgrade aimed at enhancing the network’s resilience against potential quantum computing threats. The upgrade, referred to as the Bell Protocol, is expected to bring advanced security features and prepare the Stellar ecosystem for large-scale enterprise adoption.
Upgrade timeline and new features
According to details shared on X (formerly Twitter), the Bell Protocol upgrade is set for implementation in late 2026. The testnet upgrade vote is scheduled for November 3, 2026, followed by the mainnet upgrade vote on November 23, 2026, both at 17:00 UTC. This timeline allows developers, businesses, and the broader Stellar community adequate time to adapt to the upcoming changes.
Alongside the protocol upgrade, Stellar has recently released the stable version 30.0.0 of Stellar Core, with further infrastructure and SDK updates planned in the coming week. These SDKs will provide updated XDR definitions and introduce support for the new muxed contract address type as well as W strkey formats outlined in CAP-84.
Protocol 30 will also modify the ledger header format (CAP-88), meaning older SDK versions may be unable to decode ledgers created with the upgraded protocol. To ensure compatibility, Stellar encourages all developers to update their software accordingly.
Quantum Preparedness Plan (QPP)
In June 2026, Stellar introduced the Quantum Preparedness Plan (QPP). This initiative is designed to transition the Stellar network toward quantum-safe cryptographic standards. By the end of 2027, every account on the network is expected to be able to add a quantum-safe signer through a built-in protocol update. Users will retain their current account addresses and full transaction histories throughout this process.
For enterprise clients, the plan includes early migration to quantum-safe signing via Soroban smart contract accounts in 2026, allowing large-scale wallet providers to enhance security ahead of widespread rollout.
Mini dictionary: Soroban is Stellar’s native smart contract platform, designed to support programmable, decentralized finance applications within the Stellar network while maintaining high performance and security standards.
Stellar Core v30.0.0 and the Quantum Preparedness Plan signal a proactive approach toward future-proofing the network as quantum computing continues to advance.
Addressing threats from quantum computing
There are two primary risks from sufficiently powerful quantum computers: threats to network integrity and to individual account security. Currently, the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP) secures consensus through Ed25519 digital signatures. If quantum computers become able to forge these signatures, a malicious actor could compromise quorum intersection and disrupt the network’s consensus mechanism. To address this, Stellar is planning a major SCP protocol update as part of its quantum-resistant roadmap.
A more complex challenge is account takeover. With Shor’s algorithm, a quantum computer could theoretically derive private keys from any Ed25519 public key. Because Stellar account addresses are directly based on Ed25519 public keys, all user accounts—including dormant ones that have never initiated a transaction—could become susceptible to attacks. The Quantum Preparedness Plan specifically focuses on developing quantum-safe signers to address this issue before such technology becomes accessible.
Stellar’s roadmap targets quantum-safe upgrades by 2026 and aims for all network accounts to support quantum-safe signers by the end of 2027, maintaining current addresses and transaction histories throughout the transition.
Market response and future outlook
As of the current trading session, XLM, Stellar’s native token, has risen 4.80% in the previous 24 hours to $0.183. This surge comes amid a broader recovery in the cryptocurrency market and growing optimism over Stellar’s technological roadmap.
Market observers suggest that XLM may continue to benefit from increased security and institutional adoption as Stellar’s quantum-ready features are rolled out. The Quantum Preparedness Plan is positioned as a major step in anticipating the evolving risks of next-generation cryptography and helping the network maintain its competitive edge in the blockchain space.
