Rich by Coin

A new proposal has reached XRP Ledger’s developer channels to address the quantum threat by introducing a protocol-level option that allows accounts to rotate a “SingleUseKey” for every transaction, with the key automatically discarded after one successful use. Filed as XRPL Amendment idea #420, the draft is authored by Ed Hennis, with inspiration from Nik Bougalis and David Schwartz. The concept is not a new encryption scheme; instead, it adds new fields—tentatively named SingleUseKey and QuantumSafeKey.

It envisions users keeping a recoverable Regular Key and defining a SingleUseKey, then disabling the Master Key after setup. Each transaction would be signed with the current single-use key while the next one is being prepared, creating a rolling chain that reduces key reuse and exposure. The proposal also notes risks such as tickets causing ordering problems, multisignature adding extra work to implement, and user error that the network cannot fully protect against.

Proponents argue the mechanism offers a practical path to quantum resistance as market anxiety grows, presenting an optional security upgrade for XRPL. They emphasize that even if quantum-capable breakage becomes feasible, attackers would still need time beyond XRPL’s fast validation cycle, limiting the likelihood of an observed key enabling a fraudulent, on-ledger transaction. If adopted, it would complement current security practices without replacing existing master-key workflows.