Bitcoin News: BTC upgrade against quantum computing threat might take years
Upgrading Bitcoin to counter potential quantum threats could realistically take 5 to 10 years due to necessary logistical changes.Summary
Longtime Bitcoin developer Jameson Lopp clarified that while quantum computers are not an immediate threat to Bitcoin's cryptography, implementing necessary defensive protocol changes and coordinating an unprecedented migration of funds could take a significant 5 to 10 years. This logistical challenge is crucial because institutional investors increasingly view Bitcoin as a long-term asset, making even distant technical risks relevant to current allocation decisions. Bitcoin's conservative governance model complicates large-scale transitions, requiring new address formats, wallet upgrades, exchange support, and voluntary user action to move billions of dollars. Although proposals like BIP-360 aim to introduce quantum-resistant addresses gradually, the core issue is that preparation, if required, will be a lengthy process, even if quantum machines capable of breaking current encryption are still decades away.
(Source：CoinDesk)