Key Highlights
- NEAR Protocol launched mainnet upgrade 2.13, adding NIST-approved post-quantum (FIPS-204 ML-DSA) signature support.
- The upgrade makes NEAR one of the first major Layer-1 blockchains to deploy quantum-resistant cryptography in production.
- Dynamic resharding now enables the network to automatically scale by splitting shards without validator votes or manual upgrades.
NEAR Protocol, a highly scalable blockchain, has upgraded its main network with version 2.13. This update includes enhanced security using a new digital signature method approved by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), as well as features that automatically adjust the network’s structure for improved performance.
NEAR has become one of the first major blockchains to incorporate a new, advanced security method called FIPS-204 (ML-DSA) into its live network. This upgrade enhances security using post-quantum signing technology, as announced officially.
NEAR blockchain has been upgraded with quantum-safe technology, making it one of the first to use a NIST-approved method for protecting against future quantum computer threats. This upgrade also introduces dynamic resharding, which allows the NEAR network to automatically scale and adapt to increasing demand.
— NEAR Protocol (@NEARProtocol) July 20, 2026
This update introduces automatic adjustments to how the network divides data (resharding). It can now adapt to increased usage on its own, without needing any updates installed by hand or decisions made through voting.
Why NEAR is preparing for a post-quantum future
Today’s methods for securing blockchain transactions with digital signatures may not be safe in the future. Experts warn that powerful quantum computers, if developed, could break these signatures and potentially steal large amounts of digital assets.
NEAR Protocol lets users update their account security to a new, quantum-resistant system using the NEAR command-line tool. Because NEAR accounts use easy-to-remember names that aren’t directly linked to specific encryption keys, this switch is simpler than on some other platforms. NEAR is also working with wallet companies like Ledger to add even more advanced protection against future quantum computing threats.
The new dynamic resharding feature fixes some earlier problems with how NEAR handled its network divisions. Before, adding more divisions (shards) was a complicated process that needed agreement from validators and a gradual implementation.
Building on prior developments
The updated system now automatically divides data into smaller pieces (shards) when certain usage levels are reached. This process takes about 1.5 epochs and is reliably verified using state witnesses. This improvement is designed to help the network handle more activity, especially for apps that work across different blockchains and those used directly by customers.
According to co-founder Illia Polosukhin, these improvements are designed to support a growing number of automated tasks and protect the network against future security threats. The upgrade is the result of years of work on NEAR’s unique architecture, which has been running reliably since 2020. While building upon previous performance gains, this update includes new operational processes that will need to be carefully observed as they are implemented.
Early adoption comes with execution risks
In July 2026, advancements in quantum technology led BitGo Holdings (NYSE: BTGO) to launch new tools designed to help its institutional clients protect their Bitcoin holdings from potential threats posed by quantum computing. These features include a system for assessing quantum risk, smarter ways of choosing transaction inputs, easy-to-follow migration guides, and enhanced address management.
Marc Vanlerberghe from the Algorand Foundation is urging the industry to work together on creating common standards for quantum-resistant encryption keys generated from seed phrases. Blockstream’s plans for an update in the second quarter of 2026 include research into protecting against future quantum computing threats, such as a potential new feature for Bitcoin called OP_CHECKSHRINCS.
TRON recently added support for a new type of digital signature, FN-DSA-512, to its Nile testnet. This update, proposed by the TRON community, is part of an effort led by founder Justin Sun to make the blockchain more secure against future quantum computing threats.
Challenges remain despite the upgrade
Even with the recent technical details released, there are still some unknowns about the 2.13 upgrade. Implementing post-quantum cryptography is complicated and hasn’t been widely used in real-world blockchains yet, so there are concerns about possible errors, slower speeds, or problems with current software and wallets.
Although dynamic resharding is a new and promising technology, it adds complexity that could potentially cause temporary problems when the network automatically divides into smaller pieces. Other blockchains have been more careful when making similar changes, and NEAR’s quick implementation means there’s a chance things might not go exactly as planned.
Predictions of a massive, trillion-dollar market for AI agents seem uncertain because we haven’t yet seen widespread use or proven security when these agents handle large numbers of transactions.
2026-07-20 20:06