qVAULT: Quantum-safe vault
Starting point: what this is designed to solve
Current crypto systems rely on one assumption: A private key cannot be derived from a public key. That assumption breaks under quantum. So the problem isn’t just key storage. It’s making sure that even if key derivation becomes possible, assets cannot be moved without a stronger authorization model.
What is qVAULT
qVAULT is a smart contract-based system operating in a fully non-custodial environment. No entity holds user funds. Assets are controlled entirely by smart contracts and user-controlled credentials.
Users:
connect with a non-custodial wallet
deposit (lock) assets
receive new quantum-resistant credentials
interact with those assets through a new authorization layer
Supported assets (initial phase)
The first version focuses on:
HYPE
This allows tight integration with HyperEVM, where execution constraints are known.Over time, this will expand to:
Ethereum-native assets
Stablecoins on Ethereum like USDT & USDC
Solana ecosystem assets
User flow (how it actually works)
Step 1. Generate quantum credentials
A new quantum security layer needs to be created before assets can be quantum-locked:
a new seed phrase
a QR code representing the quantum keys
a PIN code for local authorization to the quantum keys
Lost QR or PIN can be recovered using the seed phrase, similar to standard non-custodial wallets. These credentials are tied to a post-quantum keypair. The user is responsible for storing them. In other words, like a cold wallet, the keys are not stored anywhere on the Internet.
Step 2. Lock assets
Users connect with their non-custodial wallet and deposit HYPE or$qONE into the qVAULT.
The user must:
access their quantum credentials
present the QR code (on a phone or a paper)
authorize via PIN
This is similar to staking:
assets move into a smart contract
user sees position in a dashboard using the same address as the connected wallet
Step 3. Vault state
After setup:
assets are controlled by the qVAULT smart contract
authorization is no longer based on the original wallet key
The original ECDSA key is no longer sufficient to move funds.
Step 4. Interaction: lock or unlock assets
The user must:
access their quantum credentials
present the QR code (on a phone or a paper)
authorize via PIN
This acts similarly to an unstake:
request withdrawal
pass new authorization checks
receive assets back
Key model: layered authorization
Instead of one key controlling everything, the vault introduces multiple layers:
1. Original wallet (entry point)
Used only to:
deposit assets
interact with the qVAULT initially
Not sufficient for withdrawal.
2. Post-quantum keypair
Generated at vault setup.
Used for:
transaction authorization
locking the assets
withdrawal approval
This replaces ECDSA as the control layer using post-quantum cryptography, Falcon (FN-DSA) in qVAULT's case.
3. Seed phrase (recovery)
backup for PQC credentials
required if access is lost
4. QR + PIN
QR represents the quantum keys
PIN unlocks the ability to use the quantum keys
This separates: storage, access, and execution.
Why this design
Directly upgrading existing wallets does not work. Current wallets rely on the same ECDSA keys that are vulnerable to quantum attacks. If the underlying chain still accepts those signatures, the wallet cannot protect funds. Security is limited by the base authorization model. qVAULT changes this by moving control into a smart contract-based environment, using qLABS patented and patent-pending technology based on post-quantum cryptography (Falcon).
This allows:
new authorization rules
independent verification logic
protection without requiring Layer 1 upgrades
Transaction / authorization flow
When a user wants to withdraw:
Request is initiated
PQC signature is produced (via QR + PIN flow)
Signature is verified
Smart contract verifies the proof
The contract verifies the proof, not the raw signature. What changes for the user
The interaction model becomes:
deposit → hold → withdraw
Not: continuous signing with a single wallet key
Security shifts from: always-exposed keys
to: controlled access with layered authorization
What changes at the system level
authorization moves from ECDSA → PQC
verification moves from signatures → proofs
control moves from wallet → contract
This removes the vulnerability caused by public key exposure and limits attack vectors.
Why this matters
Traditional model: one key controls everythingIf that key is compromised, funds are gone. qVAULT model:
assets are isolated
withdrawal requires a different authorization system
original key is no longer enough
This changes the risk profile. It provides a way to protect funds from quantum attacks today. It is like installing airbags in a car to prevent an accident that no one knows exactly when it will happen. No need to wait for chain upgrades. No reliance on uncertain timelines. No exposure to this class of risk once assets are inside the qVAULT.
Security and validation
The system has undergone multiple audits by independent industry experts to ensure a high level of security and correctness.
Migration approach
This is not a chain upgrade. It’s opt-in.
Users can:
move assets into qVAULT
secure specific holdings
continue using existing wallets elsewhere
No forced migration.
Where this fits in the stack
$qONE→ utility for quantum-secure operations
qVAULT → asset control layer
qONE Security Protocol → verification layer (PQC)
Together, this enables quantum-resistant authorization without changing the base chain.
What comes next
expansion to additional assets and ecosystems
improved UX for credential handling
faster proof generation
deeper dApp integrations
Bottom line
This is not a new wallet. It’s a different control model. Assets stay on the same chain. What changes is how they can be moved. And that is where quantum risk lives.
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