Scott Aaronson Joins StarkWare as Scientific Advisor

Insider Brief StarkWare has appointed Scott Aaronson to its Scientific Advisory Board to strengthen its research on post-quantum security for blockchain systems. Aaronson brings deep expertise in quantum complexity theory and the limits of quantum computing, informing StarkWare’s work on the resilience of STARK-based cryptography against future quantum attacks. In his advisory role, Aaronson will help assess post-quantum risks to blockchains, including Bitcoin and digital signatures, as large-scale quantum computing capabilities continue to develop. PRESS RELEASE — StarkWare, a leader in zero-knowledge proof technology and scalable blockchain infrastructure, today announced that Prof. Scott Aaronson, one of the world’s foremost computer scientists, has joined the company’s Scientific Advisory Board. Aaronson is internationally recognised for his foundational contributions to quantum complexity theory, computational complexity classes, and the philosophical implications of computation and physics. He is widely regarded as a leading authority on the capabilities and limits of quantum computers. STARKs, the cryptographic technology underpinning all of StarkWare’s work, are post-quantum secure by design. In his advisory role, Aaronson will support StarkWare’s research into the post-quantum security properties of STARKs, as well as broader questions around post-quantum cryptography, including how Bitcoin and other cryptographic primitives, such as digital signatures, may fare in a future shaped by large-scale quantum computing. “We are honoured to welcome Scott to StarkWare’s Scientific Advisory Board,” said Eli Ben-Sasson, Co-Founder and CEO of StarkWare. “His deep scientific insight and decades of pioneering research in theoretical computer science and quantum computing align perfectly with our commitment to understanding the implications of post-quantum computing for blockchains and to helping ensure that Bitcoin and the broader crypto ecosystem can remain secure in a post-quantum world.” Aaronson is currently the Schlumberger Chair of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin and the founding Director of its Quantum Information Center. His first book, Quantum Computing Since Democritus, was published by Cambridge University Press in 2013. His honours include the National Science Foundation’s Alan T. Waterman Award, the U.S.

Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the Tomassoni-Chisesi Prize in Physics, and the ACM Prize in Computing. Aaronson is a Fellow of both the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). “StarkWare is tackling some of the most profound challenges at the intersection of cryptography, blockchains, and quantum computing,” said Aaronson. “I look forward to contributing to the company’s scientific vision and supporting its efforts to better understand the risks that post-quantum computing may pose to blockchains and modern cryptographic systems.” StarkWare’s Scientific Advisory Board plays a central role in the company’s research culture, helping ensure that StarkWare remains at the forefront of scientific innovation while maintaining the highest standards of rigour, security, and correctness.

Matt Swayne LinkedIn With a several-decades long background in journalism and communications, Matt Swayne has worked as a science communicator for an R1 university for more than 12 years, specializing in translating high tech and deep tech for the general audience. He has served as a writer, editor and analyst at The Quantum Insider since its inception. In addition to his service as a science communicator, Matt also develops courses to improve the media and communications skills of scientists and has taught courses. matt@thequantuminsider.com Share this article: