Starknet Jumps Over 20% as It Weighs Becoming an L1 Blockchain

TL;DR

• STRK jumped more than 20% after Starknet said it is actively considering becoming an independent Layer 1 blockchain, but no transition decision has been announced.
• StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson argues an L1 could give Starknet direct control over post-quantum security upgrades instead of depending on Ethereum’s timetable.
• CoinMarketCap later showed STRK near $0.074, while the 2027 target refers to quantum resistance, not a confirmed launch date for an independent blockchain.

Starknet surged after the Ethereum Layer 2 said it is actively considering becoming an independent Layer 1 blockchain, a structural shift that would give the network direct control over its security roadmap. STRK traded near $0.073 during the initial reaction, up more than 20% in 24 hours, while CoinMarketCap later showed the token around $0.074. The rally followed a proposal under consideration, not a finalized decision to leave Ethereum. Starknet said the move could help it target quantum resistance by 2027 over the coming year.

Starknet Weighs Security Independence From Ethereum

The security argument centers on Starknet’s dependence on Ethereum as an L2. StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson said that arrangement means Starknet can only become as quantum-safe as the base layer it ultimately relies on. Becoming an L1 would let the network control its own migration schedule instead of waiting for Ethereum’s post-quantum roadmap. The proposal turns quantum readiness into an architectural question: whether Starknet should preserve inherited Ethereum security or gain autonomy over cryptographic upgrades. That debate builds on StarkWare’s existing quantum-resistance roadmap, which targets remaining elliptic-curve dependencies across the stack without external coordination.

Starknet currently operates as a validity rollup, processing activity away from Ethereum mainnet and posting proofs back to the base layer for settlement and security. Moving to an independent L1 would change that relationship by making Starknet responsible for its own consensus and core security assumptions. The potential transition therefore involves more than branding or performance, because it would replace Ethereum-backed security with a self-secured blockchain model. The idea lands as the wider Ethereum rollup model faces renewed debate over how much execution, settlement and security should remain anchored to Layer 1 at protocol level.

Starknet has not detailed how applications, liquidity or users would migrate if it proceeds, and no implementation timeline for becoming an L1 has been announced. The 2027 target refers to the network’s desired quantum-resistance milestone rather than a confirmed date for an independent chain. STRK’s price reaction nevertheless shows traders rapidly repriced the possibility of greater protocol autonomy, after the token had traded near $0.03 in April. The market response reflects expectations around a possible future architecture, while execution risks and migration mechanics remain unresolved. Starknet’s previous Layer 2 performance milestones provide context for the network it would be restructuring if the proposal advances from here.