StarkWare Backs Starknet Layer 1 Shift as Path to Greater Independence
The latest position marks a stronger endorsement than Starknet's Oct. 8 statement that it was "actively considering becoming an L1." An article published through Starknet's official account on Oct. 9 took a more cautious approach, stating that "It's a question, not a decision, and the conversation is happening in public."
Starknet remains an Ethereum-settled rollup, with approximately $580 million in total value secured listed by L2BEAT. StarkWare's Oct. 10 statement did not include a governance proposal, a launch date for a standalone Layer 1, a bridge-migration plan or changes to the economics of the $STRK token.
Why StarkWare Is Considering an Independent Layer 1
StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson said on Oct. 8 that independence would allow Starknet to manage security migrations without waiting for Ethereum or Bitcoin. The proposal is particularly relevant to the project's stated goal of achieving full quantum resistance by 2027.
That 2027 objective is a quantum-resistance target, not a confirmed date for launching an independent Layer 1. The distinction matters because the potential transition would involve changes to how Starknet secures transactions and coordinates with external blockchain networks.
How a Layer 1 Transition Could Change Starknet Security
Under its existing architecture, Starknet submits cryptographic proofs of transaction execution to Ethereum for verification. It also publishes data that allows the network's state to be reconstructed, relying on Ethereum for settlement and key security functions.
An independent Layer 1 would instead use its own consensus mechanism to establish settlement security. Such a change would alter Starknet's current dependence on Ethereum and require decisions about how existing connections and asset transfers should operate under the new architecture.
The potential transition also intersects with StarkWare's quantum-readiness roadmap, published on June 30. The roadmap's final phase links bridge messaging and Ethereum blob data availability, which Starknet uses to publish state data, to Ethereum's own cryptographic migration.
The roadmap warns that removing the Ethereum-facing bridge functions before Ethereum completes that migration would break the bridge. This creates a technical dependency that would need to be addressed when determining how Starknet could change its settlement and security arrangements.
Implications for Starknet Bridge Users and STRK Holders
The existing bridge architecture has direct consequences for users transferring assets from Starknet back to Ethereum. Under the current StarkGate withdrawal process, a withdrawal block must first be proven and a state update submitted to Ethereum before the funds can be released on the destination network.
A move to an independent Layer 1 would therefore raise questions about the future design and migration of these bridge functions. However, StarkWare has not provided a bridge-migration design in its Oct. 10 statement.
For $STRK holders, fee payments, staking and governance are already established token functions rather than benefits that depend on Starknet becoming a Layer 1. StarkWare's roadmap states that protocol-level changes require approval through Starknet governance, while the token documentation specifies that major operating-system updates require token-holder approval.
Those governance requirements remain relevant to any proposed architectural transition. The available statements establish StarkWare's stronger preference for independence, but they do not confirm that Starknet will become a standalone Layer 1 or explain when such a change might occur.
Data source: thedefiant
Writer: Ethan Collins
Crypto Journalist
Ethan Collins reports on developments across the cryptocurrency and blockchain sector. His work covers market movements, protocol updates, regulatory changes, and emerging trends in digital assets.
He focuses on presenting complex topics in a clear and accessible manner for a broad readership.
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