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ETH Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin calls on the cryptocurrency community to take seriously the potential threat AI may pose to cryptosystems. In particular, he notes that lattice-based schemes such as ML-DSA and FHE are increasingly at risk as AI-driven mathematical research advances rapidly. [TAG
Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Cryptographic Threats
Butlin addresses these concerns in a detailed article on Platform X. He noted that while many in the cryptocurrency space believe elliptic curve cryptography has been cracked and assume hash functions and lattice ciphers are still secure, this confidence may not hold water. Lattice ciphers, long regarded as "post-quantum security," may soon be severely challenged by mathematical discovery accelerated by artificial intelligence.
Butrin suggested: "We need to take seriously the risks to cryptography that artificial intelligence accelerates mathematical progress, not only reducing exposure to cryptography that is vulnerable to quantum computing attacks, but also reducing its vulnerability to artificial intelligence attacks."
He compared the current state of cryptography with the development of factorization techniques. At first, basic factorization methods required exponential time, but later advances in techniques such as Number Field Sieve have greatly reduced this complexity. As a result, cryptographic systems such as RSA require key sizes far exceeding originally expected.
Butrin warned: "What if elliptic curves and lattice codes contain something like 'skeletons in the wardrobe'(i.e., major hidden flaws)? Humans may not be smart enough to spot them, but robots will soon do it." In this context, ML-DSA, FHE, and other trellis based cryptographic tools are considered particularly vulnerable.
He paints a scenario where artificial intelligence could achieve the equivalent of fifty years of human mathematical progress in just two years, which would force the use of larger-scale lattice parameters. In this case, hash-based alternatives will outperform lattice-based constructions in efficiency, whenever applicable.
Small Dictionary: Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) allows calculations to be performed without first decrypting the data, enabling privacy-protecting operations in cloud computing and other sensitive environments.
Ethereum's strategy and Buterin's recommendation
Over the past year, Ethereum's streamlined development roadmap has shifted to hash-based cryptography and gradually moved away from lattice-based systems (such as ML-DSA, Falcon and related commitments in zero-knowledge proof). To improve efficiency and security, Ethereum now prioritizes hash-only digital signatures, such as the Wennitz One-Time Signature (WOTS) and SPHINCS + schemes.
Buterin admitted that while signature and certification can already rely on hash-based methods, public-key encryption remains challenging. Current theorems show that encryption cannot be achieved by hashing alone and must require a "trapdoor" structure, a basic feature that is usually provided by lattice or code-based cryptography.
He pointed out that mathematical advances driven by artificial intelligence could weaken these trapdoor structures. To enhance long-term security, Buterin recommends expanding the key size tenfold.
He said: "Hash-based cryptography is better than lattice-based cryptography when a hash-based approach is feasible."
Butrin clarified that he does not see an immediate need to increase the byte size based on the hash-based system, but would add rounds if concerns intensify. As for extreme cases, he said only a major breakthrough like P=NP would undermine hash security, and the probability of such an event occurring is extremely low.
Suggestions for user and wallet management
Buterin provides practical measures for individual users. He recommends keeping funds wherever possible at addresses where transactions have never been made to reduce exposure.
He warned of the risks of hastily migrating wallets and said he lost more money due to migration errors than from hacking attacks. For sensitive operations, he prefers to use off-chain multi-signature confirmation and add additional protection by sending encrypted privacy notes off-chain.
