Tezos Developers Launch Quantum-Resistant Payments Prototype TzEL

Most blockchain privacy systems rely at least partly on elliptic-curve cryptography, creating a long-term risk that encrypted transaction records collected today could be exposed by future quantum computers. TzEL, developed by Nomadic Labs and Trilitech, instead combines post-quantum cryptography with zk-STARK proofs to protect payment amounts, memos and transaction links against so-called “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks.

Nomadic Labs and Trilitech said on May 14, 2026, that TzEL was live on Ushuaianet, a public Tezos test network. The experimental smart rollup can process shield and private-send transactions, while Tezos’ Data Availability Layer carries zk-STARK proofs of about 300 KB each, easing the burden of posting large payloads directly to Layer 1. The system remains research software and is not ready to hold real assets.