Key takeaways
- Starknet voters overwhelmingly support researching an independent blockchain
- Quantum security concerns are driving potential Ethereum separation
- November whitepaper could outline costs and technical requirements
Starknet, one of Ethereum's established Layer 2 scaling networks, has received overwhelming community support to explore becoming an independent blockchain, potentially ending its reliance on Ethereum's security infrastructure.
The October 22 governance poll closed with 93.52% of voting power supporting research into an independent, quantum-resistant Layer 1, with 3,236 votes recorded.
According to the Starknet Foundation's official announcement, the result authorizes StarkWare and the Foundation to investigate the proposal. It does not approve leaving Ethereum, and any transition would require another governance process.
The decision comes as Ethereum itself is reconsidering the role of scaling networks, following Vitalik Buterin's criticism of Layer 2s.
Why Starknet Is Considering Leaving Ethereum
Starknet currently processes transactions separately from Ethereum while depending on the main blockchain for important security and settlement functions.
Its cryptographic architecture uses STARK proofs, which rely on hash-based techniques considered promising for post-quantum security. Programmable accounts can also support alternative signature schemes.
However, the network still depends on Ethereum for data availability and its bridge infrastructure.
That creates a difficult limitation: Starknet can upgrade its own systems, but cannot independently make Ethereum's underlying infrastructure quantum-resistant.
The Foundation points to Ethereum's December 2029 target for quantum-resistant base-layer protections. StarkWare wants Starknet to become quantum-safe by 2027.
This represents a significant change for a project whose earlier Quantum Leap upgrade focused on making Ethereum scaling faster.
Starknet has also expanded into Bitcoin staking, showing its ambitions already extend beyond conventional Ethereum transactions.
What Would Starknet Lose by Becoming Independent?
Operating as an independent blockchain would give Starknet greater control over its upgrade schedule, but introduce new responsibilities.
It would need to establish its own consensus mechanism, validator incentives, economic security and transaction-finality guarantees rather than relying on Ethereum's existing settlement infrastructure.
Those questions are particularly important because Ethereum's Layer 2 networks now handle the overwhelming majority of transactions in the ecosystem.
Recent network data showed scaling networks processing approximately 94% of Ethereum ecosystem transactions, highlighting their importance to the wider blockchain economy.
A potential Starknet departure would also revive the longstanding Layer 1 versus Layer 2 rivalry, which previously drew public exchanges between Solana and Starknet.
However, independence does not necessarily mean abandoning Ethereum users or liquidity.
StarkWare has indicated that STRK would remain the network's native token, no replacement token is planned, and Ethereum bridges would remain available.
What Happens Next for Starknet and STRK?
StarkWare and the Starknet Foundation will now establish a joint research effort examining technical requirements, economic tradeoffs and consequences for developers.
StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson expects a draft whitepaper to be available for public review in November, followed by additional governance proposals if research supports the transition.
The company's previous Bitcoin scaling ambitions illustrate how its strategy has evolved beyond Ethereum alone.
