TradingKey - Starknet plans to upgrade to an L1 mainnet to counter quantum threats, driving its token STRK to surge 40% in a single day and strongly lead the market.

On October 9, major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum collectively came under pressure, while Ethereum Layer-2 (L2) network Starknet (STRK) bucked the trend to surge by about 40%, rising to a high of $0.071 and touching its peak from January this year. The immediate catalyst for this STRK rally was market speculation surrounding post-quantum cryptography and anti-AI decryption concepts.

STRK price chart, Source: TradingView

At Token2049 held on October 7–8, StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson revealed that Starknet is evaluating a transition away from Ethereum's Layer-2 architecture to become an independent Layer-1 blockchain, aiming to become the first fully quantum-resistant L1 network by 2027. So, why does Starknet want to transition into an independent L1?

The quantum-resistant cryptography upgrade planned for the Ethereum mainnet is not expected to be completed until the end of 2029, while the Bitcoin mainnet still has no clear upgrade roadmap. If Starknet remains an Ethereum L2, the ceiling of its security upgrades is limited by Ethereum's settlement layer. After transitioning to an independent L1, the team can fully control the pace of security upgrades and achieve its quantum-resistance goal two years early (by 2027), potentially helping it leapfrog the competition by attracting developers and capital through security.

Previously, as an L2 token, part of STRK's network transaction fees and settlement value had to flow to Ethereum L1. If it transitions to an independent L1, STRK will be upgraded to a native gas fee token and staking asset on the chain, maximizing the token's value capture capability and demand.

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