NEAR Protocol has rolled out its 2.13 mainnet upgrade, introducing quantum-resistant cryptography and dynamic resharding to improve both security and scalability. The update adds a NIST-approved post-quantum signature scheme while enabling the network to automatically adjust its shard structure as demand grows.
The upgrade makes NEAR one of the first major Layer-1 blockchains to deploy quantum-safe signing technology on a live production network, positioning it for future cryptographic challenges and higher transaction volumes.
The latest release adds support for the FIPS-204 (ML-DSA) post-quantum signature standard, a cryptographic method designed to resist attacks from future quantum computers. Current blockchain signature systems could eventually become vulnerable as quantum computing technology advances, raising concerns about the long-term security of digital assets.
MAINNET UPGRADE
Quantum-safe signing is now live on NEAR mainnet.
This makes NEAR one of the first blockchains with a NIST-approved post-quantum signature scheme in production.
The upgrade also launches dynamic resharding, so NEAR Protocol can scale itself automatically 🧵 pic.twitter.com/YvpvGwkYZU
— NEAR Protocol (@NEARProtocol) July 20, 2026
NEAR’s account model allows users to migrate to the new signature scheme by rotating their cryptographic keys through the NEAR command-line interface. Because account names are separated from individual key pairs, the transition is expected to be smoother than on blockchains where wallet addresses are directly linked to older cryptographic methods.
Alongside the security improvements, the upgrade introduces dynamic resharding, allowing the network to automatically split shards when transaction demand increases. Previously, adding new shards required validator votes and coordinated protocol upgrades. The automated process is designed to improve scalability without disrupting network operations.
NEAR co-founder Illia Polosukhin said the changes prepare the blockchain for both long-term cryptographic risks and future growth in AI-driven applications and large-scale on-chain activity.
The upgrade comes amid growing industry interest in quantum security. During July, BitGo introduced new tools to help institutional Bitcoin holders assess quantum-related risks, while the Algorand Foundation called for industry-wide standards for quantum-resistant wallets. TRON has also activated post-quantum signature support on its Nile testnet, and Blockstream continues research into quantum-secure Bitcoin signatures.
Despite the technological progress, experts note that post-quantum cryptography is still relatively new in blockchain production environments. Questions remain over software compatibility, performance and potential implementation issues. Similarly, dynamic resharding introduces additional operational complexity that will need to be tested under real-world network conditions.
Even so, NEAR’s latest upgrade represents one of the most significant blockchain infrastructure improvements of the year, highlighting the industry’s growing focus on preparing for future security threats while continuing to improve network performance and scalability.
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