Starknet governance vote on exploring independent Layer 1

Starknet opens a seven-day community vote on October 15, 2026, running through October 22, in which STRK holders decide whether the network should research leaving Ethereum's Layer 2 ecosystem to become an independent Layer 1. The poll is nonbinding and involves the STRK token, with ETH relevant as the network Starknet currently settles on.

What is happening

The Starknet governance forum published the proposal after StarkWare began discussing the idea publicly on October 8. The vote asks whether the community supports spending further resources on examining a move to an independent, quantum-resistant Layer 1. No decision has been made to separate Starknet from Ethereum, and the proposal gives no date for any transition.

The proposal offers three options: Yes, No and Neutral. A Yes result would start a research process on the independent Layer 1 option, after which developers would prepare more detailed proposals and hold additional votes. A No result would keep Starknet's quantum security work within its existing Ethereum Layer 2 structure.

According to the proposal, STRK would remain the network's native token under either arrangement, with no replacement token planned. Existing bridges between Ethereum and Starknet would stay open. Developers have not presented a final design covering consensus, data availability, bridging or migration.

Why it matters

The motivation is quantum computing risk. Starknet relies on Ethereum for functions such as data availability and its main bridge, so improvements to those components depend partly on Ethereum's own upgrade plans. An independent Layer 1 could let Starknet developers set security requirements for those functions without waiting for Ethereum. StarkWare says its STARK proofs do not depend on the same cryptographic assumptions as conventional elliptic curve signatures, but the project acknowledges that not every part of the network has completed the necessary security work.

For STRK holders, the poll is a way to influence the direction of the network's architecture, even though it only decides whether research continues. For traders and observers, the result signals how much community support exists for a major structural change, and any further proposals would come with their own votes. The vote does not alter current services, and the privacy features recently introduced, such as Shadow Accounts and STRK20, do not require Starknet to become a Layer 1.

Key details

• Date: October 15-22, 2026 (seven-day vote)
• Project: Starknet
• Coins: STRK, ETH
• Category: Governance Vote
• Status: Confirmed
• Source: crypto.news - https://crypto.news/starknet-launches-7-day-vote-on-leaving-ethereum/