StarkWare Researcher Executes First Quantum-Resistant Bitcoin Transfer, Shielding Up to $500 Billion at Risk
Updated
Updated · ExtremeTech · Sep 1
StarkWare Researcher Executes First Quantum-Resistant Bitcoin Transfer, Shielding Up to $500 Billion at Risk
3 articles · Updated · ExtremeTech · Sep 1
Summary
A StarkWare researcher completed what the company says is the first quantum-resistant Bitcoin transaction, adding extra protection on Bitcoin’s main ledger without a soft fork or consensus change.
The test used a Quantum-Safe Bitcoin system built around hashing-based cryptography, creating a second lock that would require far more quantum computing power to crack.
About 30% of Bitcoin’s supply is estimated to be exposed because many wallets use public-facing addresses, leaving roughly half a trillion dollars potentially vulnerable to future quantum attacks.
Several hundred dollars in off-chain compute made the transaction practical only for large transfers, though the work offers users a stopgap defense while Bitcoin still lacks a permanent long-term fix.