Naoris Protocol Launches Mainnet with Post-Quantum Cryptography

Naoris Protocol has officially launched its mainnet, introducing a layer-1 blockchain that employs post-quantum cryptography for enhanced transaction validation and network security. According to Cointelegraph, the network is currently live with limited, invite-only participation, allowing early users to operate validator nodes and process transactions. This initiative integrates cryptographic standards finalized by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to mitigate risks associated with existing blockchains, where current encryption methods may become vulnerable over time. Prior to the mainnet launch, Naoris Protocol's test network processed over 100 million transactions and identified hundreds of millions of potential threats, as reported by the project. This activity spanned millions of wallets and nodes. The system utilizes a consensus model known as distributed proof of security (dPoSec) to verify transactions across nodes, with the NAORIS token supporting network operations as the economic model evolves. The rollout begins with a restricted group of validators and partners, with plans for broader access to expand in phases. The project is advised by experts in cybersecurity, government, and enterprise technology, and is backed by investors including Draper Associates. The launch coincides with new research suggesting that quantum computing may arrive sooner than anticipated. Revised estimates for quantum computing, which processes information using qubits and quantum states differently from classical computers, are prompting efforts to transition away from current cryptographic standards. A study from Google, released on Monday, indicates that quantum computers may require significantly fewer resources than previously thought to break blockchain encryption. The research found that fewer than 500,000 physical qubits could potentially crack systems securing Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH), a substantial reduction from earlier estimates. These findings suggest a shorter timeline for quantum risk, with Justin Drake, a researcher at the Ethereum Foundation, estimating at least a 10% chance that a quantum computer could recover a private key by 2032. Researchers at the California Institute of Technology, in collaboration with Oratomic, reached similar conclusions, noting that improvements in error correction could lower the requirements for practical systems to 10,000 to 20,000 qubits, down from earlier assumptions of millions. Based on these reductions, a viable quantum computer could emerge by around 2030. Blockchain developers are beginning to respond, with initiatives such as the introduction of a quantum-resistant vault in the Solana ecosystem and the Ethereum Foundation's launch of a "Post-Quantum Ethereum" resource hub, outlining plans to upgrade the network’s cryptography by 2029.