Eli Ben-Sasson, the CEO of StarkWare, is making the case that blockchain networks need to bake in affordable privacy and post-quantum security from the start. His argument, laid out in recent public statements, could push the entire industry to treat these as baseline requirements rather than optional upgrades.
Why privacy costs too much
Ben-Sasson has been vocal about the need for privacy solutions that don't break the bank. Right now, most privacy tools on blockchain are either clunky or expensive, which keeps them out of reach for everyday users. He's arguing that privacy shouldn't be a premium feature reserved for those who can afford it. If StarkWare can make it cheap and easy, the rest of the industry will have to follow suit.
The post-quantum threat
His other big push is post-quantum security. Quantum computers are still in the lab, but the cryptography that secures today's blockchains won't hold up forever. Ben-Sasson wants networks to be ready before the threat arrives, not after. That means designing systems that can resist attacks from machines that don't exist yet. It's a long-term bet, but he's treating it as urgent.
Pressure on the rest of the industry
StarkWare's focus on these two fronts could force competitors to prioritize them too. If one major network ships affordable privacy and quantum-resistant security as standard, every other chain starts to look behind the curve. That's a real pressure point. The industry has a habit of waiting until a problem is obvious before fixing it, and Ben-Sasson is trying to break that cycle.
What could change
The bet is that privacy and quantum-resistance become table stakes. Not differentiators, not nice-to-haves, but the floor. That would be a shift in how the industry thinks about security and user rights. It's not the flashiest pitch, but it might be the most important one. The timing isn't accidental either—with more regulation and more scrutiny, the ability to prove your network is both private and future-proof is becoming a competitive advantage.
Whether competitors actually follow will become clear as more teams roll out their own roadmaps. For now, the ball is in the court of every other network.
