Algorand's Biggest Upgrade Since Staking Clears Final Hurdle, Bringing Quantum-Safe Accounts to Mainnet Algorand's v5.0.0 protocol upgrade has cleared the 90% node support threshold required for activation, setting the stage for the blockchain's most significant technical overhaul since staking rewards went live in January 2025. The upgrade introduces native quantum-resistant accounts, expanded smart contract functionality, and a restructured fee model that ties transaction costs to resource consumption. The Algorand team confirmed the milestone in a post on X, noting that the upgrade will activate once the mandatory cooldown period concludes. Mainnet deployment is expected within approximately one week, according to community member Alex, who posts as france.algo on X and described the rollout as one of the network's largest protocol upgrades to date. Quantum-Resistant Accounts Move Into the Protocol The centerpiece of v5.0.0 is native support for Falcon-1024 post-quantum signature accounts. Rather than relying on application-level workarounds, quantum-resistant account support is now embedded directly into the protocol itself. Users can create accounts secured by quantum-resistant signatures without deploying additional custom logic. The move builds on Algorand's earlier work in post-quantum cryptography, including the deployment of quantum-resistant state proofs in 2022 and the blockchain's first quantum-resilient transaction in 2025. According to X user Marco Salzmann, v5.0.0 shifts that effort toward broader cryptographic agility across the protocol, positioning Algorand ahead of most competitors in preparing for a future where quantum computers could threaten conventional cryptographic standards. Salzmann also outlined a broader roadmap that includes hybrid accounts, post-quantum multisig capabilities, and additional research into Falcon signatures, post-quantum verifiable random functions, and consensus mechanisms. Smart Contracts and Fee Structure Get Overhauled The upgrade introduces AVM v13, which expands smart contract sizes and adds new functionality. Among the additions is the poseidon2 opcode, while cross-application box storage support broadens how applications can manage data across