Starknet Jumps as It Weighs Leaving Ethereum to Become Its Own Quantum-Ready Chain

By Isaac • October 9, 2026 3:21 pm •

Starknet just put one of the biggest assumptions behind its technology on the table: What if an Ethereum layer 2 stopped being an Ethereum layer 2?

The scaling network says it is actively considering becoming an independent layer-1 blockchain, arguing that the move could let it reach full quantum resistance by 2027 instead of waiting for Ethereum’s broader security roadmap. The announcement helped send the STRK token sharply higher, but the proposal carries a tradeoff far larger than one day’s price move.

Decrypt reported that STRK traded near $0.073 after gaining roughly 20% in 24 hours. Starknet currently bundles activity above Ethereum and relies on the base chain for final security.

Becoming a layer 1 would