QRL 2.0 is the next generation of the Quantum Resistant Ledger: a proof of stake blockchain with EVM compatible smart contracts, secured end to end by post-quantum signatures. Every account signs with ML-DSA-87, a lattice based scheme standardized by NIST, so the chain is designed to stay secure even against attackers equipped with large quantum computers.

This article gives you the full picture in one sitting: what QRL 2.0 is technically, how it relates to the legacy QRL chain that has been running since 2018, what you can already do on the public testnet today, and how ZondScan, the explorer you are reading this on, fits into the ecosystem.

No prior blockchain experience is required. Where a topic deserves more depth, we link to a dedicated guide, starting with why post-quantum cryptography matters.

QRL 2.0, the short version

Under the hood, QRL 2.0 runs the same two-layer architecture as modern proof of stake Ethereum, with two clients working together:

Consensus layer: a proof of stake beacon chain run by qrysm, a fork of the Prysm client. Validators stake Quanta, propose blocks, and attest to the chain in slots and epochs.
Execution layer: gqrl, a client of go-ethereum lineage. It executes transactions and EVM smart contracts, so concepts like gas, contract bytecode, and token standards carry over.
Signatures: ML-DSA-87, the strongest parameter set of ML-DSA (the standardized form of CRYSTALS-Dilithium), standardized as NIST FIPS 204. This replaces the elliptic curve signatures that most chains rely on and that quantum algorithms are expected to break.

Addresses on QRL 2.0 start with Q. Amounts are denominated in Quanta: one Quanta is 10^9 Shor and 10^18 Planck. The units guide covers the conversions, and the built in converter does the arithmetic for you.

Two chains, one project

The QRL project currently maintains two networks. The legacy QRL chain has run in production since 2018 and is secured by XMSS (RFC 8391), a hash based signature scheme. XMSS is stateful: each key can produce a limited number of signatures and the wallet must track which ones have been used. It has protected the ledger reliably for years, and it predates the NIST post-quantum standards.

QRL 2.0 is the redesign. It moves consensus to proof of stake, adds EVM smart contracts, and adopts ML-DSA-87, which is stateless and fits the account model that smart contract chains use. QRL 2.0 currently runs as a public testnet. Mainnet arrives after the migration from the legacy chain. The official project documentation lives at docs.theqrl.org.

What you can do today

The testnet is a full environment, so the entire product stack around QRL 2.0 is already usable. A reasonable first tour looks like this:

Create a wallet
MyQRLWallet runs in the browser and generates post-quantum accounts with Q-prefixed addresses. The wallet guide walks through setup and, most importantly, backing up your seed.
Get testnet Quanta
The ZondScan faucet sends free testnet Quanta to any address. See the faucet guide for the short walkthrough.
Send a transaction and read it back
Transfer some Quanta between your own addresses, then find the transaction on the transactions list or by pasting its hash into the search bar. Reading a transaction explains every field on the page.
Deploy a smart contract or launch a token
Contracts are compiled with Hyperion and deployed to the EVM compatible execution layer. You can deploy and verify a contract so its source appears on ZondScan, or launch a QRC20 token straight from your wallet.
Stake and swap
QuantaPool offers liquid staking: you stake Quanta and receive a liquid staking token in return (guide). QuantaSwap runs atomic swaps between testnet Quanta and Sepolia ETH using hash time locked contracts, with no custodian in the middle (guide).

Where ZondScan fits

ZondScan is the block explorer for QRL 2.0. A synchronizer reads every block from a network node and indexes it into a database, and this site serves that data with search across blocks, transactions, and addresses. From here you can inspect:

Blocks and transactions, including pending transactions still waiting in the mempool.
Addresses, with native balance, QRC20 token holdings and transfers, NFTs, and internal contract calls.
Validators and epochs: the validator list and per-epoch data, explained in validators and epochs.
Smart contracts: the contracts list and the verification flow, which recompiles submitted source with a pinned Hyperion build and byte-matches it against the on-chain code before publishing it.
Network stats and tools: live block height, validator count, and staked Quanta on the home page, plus a gas tracker, the richlist, and a REST API explorer for programmatic access.

The whole stack is open source under the MIT license at github.com/DigitalGuards/zondscan.

FAQ

Is QRL 2.0 live?

It runs as a public testnet that anyone can use today. Mainnet follows the migration from the legacy QRL chain. Until then, all coins and activity on QRL 2.0 are for testing.

Do I need to buy anything to try it?

No. The faucet dispenses testnet Quanta for free, and they have no monetary value. Wallets, staking, swaps, and contract deployment all work with faucet funds.

Does my Ethereum knowledge carry over?

Largely, yes. The execution layer runs the EVM, so gas, contract bytecode, and token standards behave the way you expect, and contracts are compiled with Hyperion. Accounts differ: keys use ML-DSA-87 and addresses are Q-prefixed, so you need a QRL wallet such as MyQRLWallet to hold coins and sign transactions.

Why does QRL use post-quantum signatures?

A sufficiently large quantum computer could recover private keys from the elliptic curve signatures most blockchains use today. QRL builds on NIST-standardized post-quantum schemes from the start. Why post-quantum covers the threat model in detail.