---
title: The Hardy Index
description: The Hardy Index scores how prepared each major blockchain is for the quantum-computing threat, using a public six-dimension rubric and a five-tier readiness spine. Independent, sourced and maintained.
url: "https://hardyindex.com"
updated: 2026-08-12
methodology_version: 1.1
chains: 23
---

# The Hardy Index

The independent quantum-readiness benchmark for blockchains.

The Hardy Index scores how prepared each major blockchain is for the quantum-computing threat. Every score is built from six weighted dimensions, every dimension carries a primary source, and the whole rubric is published at https://hardyindex.com/methodology.

**As of 12 August 2026. Methodology v1.1. 23 chains.**

> This is a security-readiness assessment, not investment advice.

## What the Hardy Score means

The Hardy Score runs from 0 to 100 and measures quantum readiness only. A chain scores highly when a post-quantum signature scheme protects real funds on its mainnet today, when that scheme is standardised by NIST, when existing holders have a credible route to migrate, and when little of its supply already sits in addresses with exposed public keys. A high score is not a recommendation and a low score is not a prediction of failure.

## The ranking

| Rank | Chain | Ticker | Hardy Score | Tier | Signature scheme on mainnet |
|---:|---|---|---:|---|---|
| 1 | [Quantum Resistant Ledger](https://hardyindex.com/chains/qrl) | QRL | 92.0 | 1: Native | XMSS (stateful hash-based), mandatory for all accounts |
| 2 | [Abelian](https://hardyindex.com/chains/abelian) | ABEL | 84.5 | 1: Native | Lattice-based post-quantum signatures, mandatory for all transactions |
| 3 | [Nervos CKB](https://hardyindex.com/chains/nervos-ckb) | CKB | 75.5 | 2: Shipping | secp256k1 by default; SPHINCS+ available via an on-chain lock script |
| 4 | [Algorand](https://hardyindex.com/chains/algorand) | ALGO | 74.5 | 2: Shipping | Ed25519 for standard accounts; Falcon for State Proofs and post-quantum transactions |
| 5 | [Solana](https://hardyindex.com/chains/solana) | SOL | 54.5 | 2: Shipping | Ed25519 for all standard accounts |
| 6 | [XRP Ledger](https://hardyindex.com/chains/xrp-ledger) | XRP | 46.5 | 3: Committed | secp256k1 or Ed25519, selectable per account |
| 7 | [Sui](https://hardyindex.com/chains/sui) | SUI | 45.5 | 3: Committed | Ed25519 for accounts, with multi-scheme support |
| 8 | [Hedera](https://hardyindex.com/chains/hedera) | HBAR | 42.0 | 3: Committed | Ed25519 or ECDSA on secp256k1, selectable per account |
| 9 | [Stellar](https://hardyindex.com/chains/stellar) | XLM | 41.0 | 3: Committed | Ed25519 for all classic accounts |
| 10 | [Zcash](https://hardyindex.com/chains/zcash) | ZEC | 41.0 | 3: Committed | RedDSA and RedPallas elliptic-curve signatures, with Halo 2 proofs |
| 11 | [Aptos](https://hardyindex.com/chains/aptos) | APT | 40.5 | 3: Committed | Ed25519 for account authentication |
| 12 | [Polkadot](https://hardyindex.com/chains/polkadot) | DOT | 40.5 | 3: Committed | sr25519 (Schnorr over Ristretto-compressed Curve25519), with Ed25519 in some roles |
| 13 | [Ethereum](https://hardyindex.com/chains/ethereum) | ETH | 40.0 | 3: Committed | ECDSA on secp256k1 for accounts; BLS for validator signatures |
| 14 | [Cardano](https://hardyindex.com/chains/cardano) | ADA | 37.5 | 3: Committed | Ed25519 for transaction signing; elliptic-curve VRF for slot-leader election |
| 15 | [BNB Chain](https://hardyindex.com/chains/bnb-chain) | BNB | 22.5 | 4: Debating | ECDSA on secp256k1, for EVM compatibility |
| 16 | [IOTA](https://hardyindex.com/chains/iota) | IOTA | 21.0 | 4: Debating | Ed25519 (EdDSA over Curve25519 with SHA-512) for layer-1 transactions |
| 17 | [Tron](https://hardyindex.com/chains/tron) | TRX | 18.5 | 4: Debating | ECDSA on secp256k1 |
| 18 | [Bitcoin](https://hardyindex.com/chains/bitcoin) | BTC | 17.0 | 4: Debating | ECDSA and Schnorr on secp256k1 |
| 19 | [TON](https://hardyindex.com/chains/toncoin) | TON | 13.0 | 5: Exposed | Ed25519, verified inside wallet smart contracts |
| 20 | [Litecoin](https://hardyindex.com/chains/litecoin) | LTC | 12.5 | 5: Exposed | ECDSA on secp256k1, inherited from Bitcoin |
| 21 | [Dogecoin](https://hardyindex.com/chains/dogecoin) | DOGE | 11.0 | 5: Exposed | ECDSA on secp256k1, inherited from Bitcoin |
| 22 | [Avalanche](https://hardyindex.com/chains/avalanche) | AVAX | 10.5 | 5: Exposed | ECDSA on secp256k1 across the C-Chain, X-Chain and P-Chain |
| 23 | [Hyperliquid](https://hardyindex.com/chains/hyperliquid) | HYPE | 7.0 | 5: Exposed | ECDSA on secp256k1, via EIP-712 typed-data signing |

## The five-tier readiness spine

1. **Native**: Post-quantum secure at mainnet today, with quantum-resistant signatures built in from genesis.
2. **Shipping**: Post-quantum signature features are live on mainnet and a migration for existing holders is underway.
3. **Committed**: A funded roadmap with public dates and active research exists, but no post-quantum signature is live on mainnet.
4. **Debating**: The threat is acknowledged and proposals exist, but there is no consensus and no published timeline.
5. **Exposed**: The signatures securing funds on mainnet today are quantum-vulnerable, and no public post-quantum plan, proposal or research programme could be found.

## The six weighted dimensions

1. **Signature scheme** (30%): Whether the signature scheme protecting funds on mainnet today is quantum-vulnerable (ECDSA, EdDSA, Schnorr, BLS) or post-quantum (hash-based or lattice-based).
2. **Deployment stage** (25%): How far the chain has actually moved along the five-tier readiness spine, from Native at the top to Exposed at the bottom.
3. **NIST alignment** (15%): Whether the chosen post-quantum scheme is standardised by NIST (ML-DSA, SLH-DSA, XMSS, LMS), on the NIST standardisation track (Falcon/FN-DSA), or bespoke and unreviewed.
4. **Migration path** (15%): Whether existing holders have a credible, low-loss route to quantum-safe keys, and whether the chain’s governance can plausibly deliver it.
5. **Exposure** (10%): The share of supply or accounts whose public keys are already visible on-chain, which is what makes harvest-now-decrypt-later attacks possible.
6. **Verification** (5%): Whether the chain’s post-quantum claims are backed by open source, third-party audits and independent review, or rest on marketing.

Each dimension is scored 0 to 10, multiplied by its weight and divided by ten, so a chain scoring 10 everywhere lands on exactly 100.

## Pages

- [Methodology](https://hardyindex.com/methodology): the complete rubric
- [Chain profiles](https://hardyindex.com/chains): every rated chain, grouped by tier
- [Changelog](https://hardyindex.com/changelog): every score and methodology change
- [About and neutrality statement](https://hardyindex.com/about)
- [Is Quantum Resistant Ledger quantum-safe?](https://hardyindex.com/chains/qrl)
- [Is Abelian quantum-safe?](https://hardyindex.com/chains/abelian)
- [Is Nervos CKB quantum-safe?](https://hardyindex.com/chains/nervos-ckb)
- [Is Algorand quantum-safe?](https://hardyindex.com/chains/algorand)
- [Is Solana quantum-safe?](https://hardyindex.com/chains/solana)
- [Is XRP Ledger quantum-safe?](https://hardyindex.com/chains/xrp-ledger)
- [Is Sui quantum-safe?](https://hardyindex.com/chains/sui)
- [Is Hedera quantum-safe?](https://hardyindex.com/chains/hedera)
- [Is Stellar quantum-safe?](https://hardyindex.com/chains/stellar)
- [Is Zcash quantum-safe?](https://hardyindex.com/chains/zcash)
- [Is Aptos quantum-safe?](https://hardyindex.com/chains/aptos)
- [Is Polkadot quantum-safe?](https://hardyindex.com/chains/polkadot)
- [Is Ethereum quantum-safe?](https://hardyindex.com/chains/ethereum)
- [Is Cardano quantum-safe?](https://hardyindex.com/chains/cardano)
- [Is BNB Chain quantum-safe?](https://hardyindex.com/chains/bnb-chain)
- [Is IOTA quantum-safe?](https://hardyindex.com/chains/iota)
- [Is Tron quantum-safe?](https://hardyindex.com/chains/tron)
- [Is Bitcoin quantum-safe?](https://hardyindex.com/chains/bitcoin)
- [Is TON quantum-safe?](https://hardyindex.com/chains/toncoin)
- [Is Litecoin quantum-safe?](https://hardyindex.com/chains/litecoin)
- [Is Dogecoin quantum-safe?](https://hardyindex.com/chains/dogecoin)
- [Is Avalanche quantum-safe?](https://hardyindex.com/chains/avalanche)
- [Is Hyperliquid quantum-safe?](https://hardyindex.com/chains/hyperliquid)

---

Cite as: The Hardy Index, https://hardyindex.com, as of 12 August 2026.