Protocol “U” Previewed: A First Step Towards Quantum Readiness

Last week, Nomadic Labs shared a preview on Tezos Agora of the next protocol proposal, currently referred to as “U.”

At first glance, it might not sound exciting. Quantum-resistant signatures. Feature flags. Cryptographic standards. Not exactly headline-grabbing stuff.

But this is one of those moments that matters precisely because it is happening early.

Blockchains rely on public key cryptography. Today, that cryptography is secure. Tomorrow? With sufficiently advanced quantum computers, that assumption could change. In theory, a powerful enough machine could derive a private key from a public key. That is not an immediate threat. But it is a real long-term consideration for every network that intends to be around for decades.

Tezos is choosing to prepare now, not later.

The important thing to understand is this: nothing is breaking, and no one needs to rush to do anything.

Elliptic curve signatures remain safe today. The upcoming proposal does not deprecate them. It does not force users to migrate. It does not disrupt wallets or custody systems.

Instead, “U” introduces the groundwork.

Specifically, it integrates ML-DSA-44, a post-quantum signature scheme standardized by NIST. On Tezos, this would appear as a new account type: tz5.

Behind the scenes, the protocol will support:

• Transfers, contract calls, delegation, and staking with tz5 accounts

• A formally verified Rust implementation

• A feature flag that keeps it deployed but not yet user-accessible

For now, baking and native multisig remain on existing account types. Nothing changes operationally.

This is infrastructure being quietly installed before anyone needs to flip the switch.

Why Do It This Way?

Cryptographic migrations are not hard technically. They are hard socially.

Wallets need to integrate new signing schemes. Custodians need to upgrade infrastructure. Tooling needs to adapt. Users need time to understand what they are doing.

That coordination cannot happen overnight. And if the industry ever reaches a point where migration becomes urgent, it will already be too late to begin calmly planning.

By starting now, Tezos gives the ecosystem breathing room as an ounce of prevention is worth a pound in cure.

Future upgrades are expected to introduce stateful addresses, allowing multiple keys to attach to the same account. That means users could eventually add a post-quantum backup key without losing address history. For artists, collectors, DAOs, and long-lived accounts, that continuity matters.

Tezos has always taken the long view. Twenty upgrades in, the network continues to evolve without disruption. “U” follows that same philosophy.

It is not flashy. It does not change your wallet experience tomorrow. It does not alter how you stake, trade, or build this week.

But it signals something important: this network intends to stay secure not just for the next cycle, but for the next era of computing.

That is the kind of preparation you want to see long before it becomes urgent.

The Tezos Community Heads to ETHDenver 2026

Next up, while some teams are thinking decades ahead, others are packing their bags for next week.

The Tezos ecosystem is heading to ETHDenver.

If you are in Denver, make sure to swing by the Tezos booth. Full details are coming soon, but expect conversations, a bit of swag, and a few surprises along the way.

A strong group of builders will be around the Etherlink booth as well, so it is a great chance to meet the people shipping the infrastructure and applications that many of us talk about every week. Stop by, say hello, and put faces to the names.

And if you are looking for a proper start to your morning, the Tezos Breakfast Club returns:

🗓️ Tuesday, February 17 | 10:00 AM–12:30 PM (GMT-7)
📍 The Wild, Denver

Coffee, pastries, and time to connect before the day kicks off.

Denver always has a way of bringing the ecosystem together. If you are attending, this is your invitation!

This Week in the Tezos Ecosystem

Critical Mass Episode 1 Launches with the World Nuclear Association

There’s something fitting about this next story coming from the uranium corner of the ecosystem.

This week, Uranium.io officially launched a brand new show called Critical Mass, a podcast focused on nuclear energy, policy, and the forces shaping the future of the sector.

Episode one opens with a heavyweight guest: Sama Bilbao y León, Director General of the World Nuclear Association.

The conversation dives straight into the landmark declaration signed by 33 countries pledging to scale nuclear power. It unpacks what is actually driving this renewed momentum and why today’s nuclear renaissance looks fundamentally different from past cycles.

Here’s what they cover:

• The global pledge to triple nuclear capacity
• Shifting public opinion around nuclear energy
• The role of small modular reactors versus large-scale builds
• Which regions are moving fastest and what policies are accelerating change

For anyone following uranium markets, energy infrastructure, or the broader macro context behind tokenized commodities, this podcast is a must-follow.

Listen to Episode 1 on your favorite platform.

Events

Big conference days tend to start fast, and ETHDenver is no exception. To make the morning a little easier, the Tezos Breakfast Club is back with a relaxed meetup designed to fuel conversations before the day gets busy.

If you skipped the hotel breakfast or just want a familiar place to land, this is a low-key stop for the Tezos community to connect over coffee and pastries before heading into the conference.

What to Expect

• Complimentary coffee and fresh baked goods

• Casual conversations about Tezos, Etherlink, and what people are building

• Exclusive giveaways for attendees

• A friendly starting point to ease into the ETHDenver schedule

The Breakfast Club is meant to stay simple. No panels, no presentations, just a chance to catch up with builders, artists, and ecosystem teams in a comfortable setting.

Event Details

• Location: The Wild, 1660 Wynkoop St Suite 100, Denver, CO

• When: During ETHDenver week

• Registration: Spots are limited, so early sign-up is recommended

Grab a coffee, grab a pastry, and start your ETHDenver week with good conversations and familiar faces.

One More Thing…

We’re giving first details exclusively to you, our loyal subscribers, more information will be revealed in the near future, but save the date for Tez/Dev 2026!

🔴 Now Streaming: Inside TZ APAC and the Next Fortify Labs Cohort

This week on TezTalks Live, host Stu is joined by Imran Haqeem, Deputy Head of Programs at TZAPAC, for a wide-ranging conversation about how Tezos continues to take shape across the Asia Pacific region.

Imran returns to share what the TZAPAC team has been working on as 2026 begins, from ecosystem programs and regional initiatives to the next cohort of Fortify Labs projects. Together, they explore how builders’ needs are changing, what kinds of ideas are emerging, and how hands-on support can make the difference between an early concept and a real product.

Watch the full episode on YouTube.