On July 23, TRON founder Justin Sun unveiled a major security upgrade plan: the network will deploy NIST-standardized post-quantum signatures, making it the first large-scale blockchain to adopt this technology. The move aims to protect user funds against future quantum computer attacks on existing cryptographic algorithms.
TRON's Post-Quantum Security Scheme: ML-DSA Primary, SLH-DSA Backup
According to Sun, TRON will adopt ML-DSA (FIPS 204) as the primary signing standard, with SLH-DSA (FIPS 205) as a fallback. In the early stage, a hybrid signing mode will be used, where network nodes validate both current ECDSA and new post-quantum signatures simultaneously, ensuring compatibility while enabling users to transition to stronger security gradually. The main trade-off is signature size: post-quantum signatures are around 2–4 KB, compared to 64–70 bytes for ECDSA.
The team stated they will continue optimizing network speed despite the added complexity. Given the massive volume of USDT transactions on TRON, maintaining high throughput remains critical.
The Race for Quantum Safety: TRON Leads, Bitcoin and Ethereum Diverge
Responses to the quantum computing threat vary sharply among the three major blockchains. TRON plans to deploy post-quantum signatures on mainnet in 2026, aiming to be the first mainstream chain with built-in protection. Bitcoin is taking a much more cautious approach, with developers still debating whether to “freeze” older coins that cannot be upgraded; most experts believe a real solution is 3 to 5 years away. Ethereum sits in the middle: it has formed research committees and is exploring “account abstraction” to help users switch to safer keys later, but has not set a firm mainnet date.
TRX Price and On-Chain Metrics: Independent Momentum, 3.5M Daily Active Users
The security upgrade news boosted market sentiment. TRX token price recently climbed to $0.324, showing decoupled price action from Bitcoin. On-chain data shows daily active accounts exceeding 3.5 million, as TRON becomes a preferred platform for digital payments and savings. Analysts predict that if the price holds, TRX could test $0.325 or higher.
The next key catalyst is the Hong Kong Web3 Festival in late April, where more ecosystem partners are expected to join, potentially driving further TRX demand.