AVALANCHE · L1 · QRI 16 · BAND 2 Acknowledged Hybrid FAIL · Stage 0 · Washing 1x

Avalanche has the most flexible architecture for PQC experiments on this list, because any subnet can run a custom VM with custom crypto. It also has zero subnets doing that. The capability everyone cites as a reason Avalanche could migrate fast is the same capability nobody has used.

inLinkedIn XPost ▼Scorecard JSON ⇆Compare Verified 2026-04-18

Summary

Avalanche uses ECDSA secp256k1 (C-Chain) and BLS12-381 (P-Chain subnet validators). Subnet architecture allows custom VMs with alternative crypto, but no PQC work has shipped. Zero PQC research identified. Strong upgrade track record (Avalanche9000, Etna) gives coordination credibility only.

What the gates say

Hybrid: FAIL. No hybrid plan on file.
Evidence: PASS. Sources reconstructable by third party.
Primitive naming: PASS. Named primitives at every scored sub-level.

Burn-vs-rescue policy on file

undeclared

Seven dimensions

Each dimension scores 0-100 internally; the weighted roll-up produces the QRI on the left. Open a row to read the sub-score detail.

1 Cryptographic Exposure 30 / 100

1a_primitive_inventory 12 / 20

Multiple chain types with different primitives.

Primitives: ECDSA secp256k1 (C-Chain, X-Chain transactions) · BLS12-381 (P-Chain subnet validator sigs) · Keccak-256 (EVM) · SHA-256

Evidence: build.avax.network

1b_shor_grover_pq_tag 12 / 20

Evidence: build.avax.network

1c_algorithm_family_diversity 0 / 20

No PQC families

1d_nist_security_category 0 / 20

No NIST PQC

1e_implementation_quality 6 / 20

Evidence: github.com

2 HNDL Exposure 22 / 100

2a_active_key_exposure 5 / 20

C-Chain EVM accounts expose pubkeys. 1,700 validators.

2b_cold_key_exposure 6 / 20

Mainnet since Sept 2020. Moderate cold exposure.

2c_signature_longterm_validity 5 / 20

Subnet validator BLS sigs and C-Chain ECDSA forgeable post-Shor.

2d_encryption_confidentiality 6 / 20

Standard TLS; Snowman consensus uses standard node TLS.

3 Metadata & Privacy Exposure 25 / 100

3a_tx_graph_visibility 6 / 20

Transparent pseudonymous C-Chain; X-Chain slightly more opaque (UTXO).

3b_rpc_mempool_concentration 6 / 20

Infura, Alchemy, Ava Labs RPC. Moderate concentration.

3c_cross_chain_bridge_correlation 6 / 20

Avalanche Bridge (centralized), LayerZero, Wormhole, Chainlink CCIP.

3d_retroactive_deanon_risk 7 / 20

Standard transparent ledger; no shielded pool.

4 Migration Architecture 42 / 100

4a_crypto_agility 10 / 20

Multi-VM architecture allows custom VMs with alternative crypto. Subnets can use different primitives.

4b_account_abstraction_key_rotation 12 / 20

C-Chain inherits ERC-4337; subnets can implement custom AA.

4c_hard_fork_track_record 12 / 20

Avalanche9000 upgrade Nov 2024; Etna ACP-86 EVM upgrade 2025.

4d_hybrid_deployment_readiness 8 / 20

Subnet custom-VM model allows hybrid PQC experiments but no shipped work.

5 Deployment Execution 2 / 100

5a_mainnet_pqc_pct 0 / 20

no public artifact found

5b_pqc_code_in_client 0 / 20

no PQC in AvalancheGo

5c_validator_pqc_adoption 0 / 20

1,700 validators, no PQC keys

5d_published_milestones_count 0 / 20

no PQC milestones

5e_pqc_washing_delta 2 / 20

No PQC announcements

6 Supply Chain Vendor Readiness 6 / 100

6a_wallet 2 / 20

6b_bridge 1 / 20

6c_custodian 2 / 20

6d_rpc_hsm 1 / 20

7 Governance & Coordination 48 / 100

7a_validator_stake_distribution 15 / 20

1,700 primary validators, 155K delegators.

7b_upgrade_cadence_under_pressure 13 / 20

Smooth Avalanche9000 and Etna upgrades. ACP process active.

7c_named_coordination_lead 13 / 20

Ava Labs (Emin Gun Sirer).

7d_adversarial_coordination_precedent 7 / 20

No documented adversarial crypto-change.

The X + Y vs Z inequality

X (data shelf life): 5-10 (EOA with key rotation; subnet validator keys 10+)

Y (migration time): 10-15

Z10 (10% CRQC year): 2036 · Z50 (50%): 2041

Verdict: X+Y > Z (danger).

Four-scenario grid

Scenario	Value preserved	Privacy preserved
quantum never	100%	100%
arrives suddenly pre migration	15%	5%
arrives slowly post migration	80%	70%
arrives slowly mid migration	45%	30%

Peers in the L1 profile

Order-book view of the 9 chains closest to Avalanche by QRI.

Public artifacts used for this scorecard

Each entry below is a sub-score citation. Clicking the link takes you to the public source. A third party should be able to reconstruct every number on this page from these URLs in 48 hours.

Cryptographic Exposure · 1a_primitive_inventory

Multiple chain types with different primitives.

https://build.avax.network/academy/avalanche-l1/avalanche-fundamentals

Cryptographic Exposure · 1b_shor_grover_pq_tag

https://build.avax.network

Cryptographic Exposure · 1e_implementation_quality

https://github.com/ava-labs/avalanchego

Supply chain snapshot

wallet Core Wallet · MetaMask · Ledger HW 0 PQC roadmaps

bridge Avalanche Bridge · LayerZero · Wormhole 0 PQC roadmaps

custodian Coinbase Custody · BitGo · Fireblocks 0 PQC roadmaps

rpc_hsm Ava Labs RPC · Infura · Alchemy 0 PQC roadmaps

A chain's supply chain cannot migrate faster than its slowest dependency. Zero PQC roadmaps in any of the four categories is a structural blocker, not a lagging indicator.

Analyst notes on the scoring

Subnet architecture is one of the more flexible platforms for potential PQC experiments (custom VM per subnet) but Ava Labs has not prioritized this.

Scorecard metadata

Profile: L1
Scored: 2026-04-18 by layerqu-v2-scoring-agent-1
v1 reference: chainscreen-v1-archive
QRI raw: 16 · after caps: 16
Confidence interval: ±15
PQC washing ratio: 1x
Burn-vs-rescue: undeclared

Caps triggered

mosca_cap_60
sutor_stage_cap_2
casado_stage_cap_3
preskill_half_dim2_dim3_dim5_dim6
hybrid_gate_fail_cap_60