Bitcoin Should Prepare For Quantum Despite No Looming Threat
Adam Back advises Bitcoin to develop quantum-resistant solutions now to ensure long-term security against future computing threats.Summary
Blockstream CEO Adam Back emphasizes that while functional quantum computing may still be decades away, Bitcoin should proactively prepare for the threat. During Paris Blockchain Week, Back noted that current quantum systems are essentially lab experiments, yet he advocates for building optional, controlled upgrades to allow for migration to quantum-resistant cryptography.
To this end, Blockstream is already researching threat vectors and has implemented hash-based signatures on its Liquid Network. Back suggests that protocols like Taproot could eventually support alternative signature schemes without disrupting current users. This proactive stance contrasts with recent research from Google and Caltech suggesting quantum computers might break Bitcoin's cryptography sooner than expected.
Additionally, the article highlights a controversial proposal by developer Jameson Lopp and others to freeze quantum-vulnerable Bitcoin, including Satoshi Nakamoto's holdings, to prevent theft. This proposal has faced significant backlash from community members who view it as "authoritarian and confiscatory."
(Source：Cointelegraph)