Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said advances in AI-driven mathematical research could create new security pressure for existing cryptographic systems, with lattice-based cryptography and ECDSA both potentially facing threats sooner than expected. In a post on X, Buterin pointed to lattice-based schemes such as ML-DSA and fully homomorphic encryption, or FHE, as areas that may see their practical security weakened if AI progress in mathematics accelerates over the next two years. He added that Ethereum’s Lean roadmap has been shifting over the past year toward pure hash-based cryptographic approaches, while avoiding lattice-based signatures and related zero-knowledge proof structures. Buterin said protocols should prefer hash-based cryptography where feasible and use more conservative security parameters for lattice-based systems. He also said privacy protocols should avoid storing encrypted information directly onchain when possible, and multisig wallets should favor offchain signature confirmation. For users, he suggested keeping funds in addresses that have not yet sent transactions when operationally convenient, though he did not recommend an immediate large-scale migration of assets. He also warned that migration itself carries risk, saying losses from his own migration mistakes exceeded those from past hacks.
Odaily reported that Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said in a post on X that AI is accelerating mathematical research and could introduce new security threats to existing cryptographic systems, particularly lattice-based cryptography, including ML-DSA and fully homomorphic encryption, or FHE.
Buterin said progress in AI over the next two years could materially weaken the practical security of lattice-based cryptography. He added that ECDSA may also face the risk of being broken sooner than previously expected.
Ethereum’s Lean roadmap shifts toward hash-based cryptography
According to Buterin, Ethereum’s Lean roadmap has gradually moved over the past year toward pure hash-based cryptographic schemes, avoiding lattice-based signatures and related zero-knowledge proof structures.
Protocol and user recommendations
He said hash-based cryptography should be preferred where feasible, while lattice-based systems should use more conservative security parameters. For privacy protocols, he said encrypted information should be kept offchain where possible rather than stored directly onchain. For multisig wallets, he said offchain signature confirmation should be prioritized.
On user fund management, Buterin said users can reduce potential risk by keeping assets in addresses that have not initiated any transactions, if doing so is operationally convenient. At the same time, he said he does not recommend that users immediately carry out large-scale asset migrations.
Buterin also said migration itself carries risk. He wrote that losses caused by his own migration mistakes were even greater than the losses he suffered from hacks over the years.
This article was originally published by Bit.Fan. For more cryptocurrency news and market insights, visit www.bit.fan. Disclaimer:
The market information, project data, and third-party content displayed on this platform are for industry information sharing only and do not constitute any form of investment advice or return commitment.
Cryptocurrency trading carries high risks. Users should fully assess their risk tolerance and make independent decisions. All profits, losses, and legal responsibilities are borne by the users themselves.
