Quantum computing risk puts 7 million BTC including Satoshi Nakamoto's 1 million at stake

The increasing capability of quantum computing poses a significant threat to approximately 6.98 million Bitcoin, valued at around $440 billion today, including the 1 million BTC attributed to Satoshi Nakamoto. The vulnerability stems from early Bitcoin transactions (P2PK) that exposed public keys on-chain, which quantum computers could theoretically reverse. This has sparked a debate within the community regarding intervention: some argue that freezing these vulnerable coins would violate Bitcoin's foundational neutrality and immutability, setting a dangerous precedent for governance. Others, like Jameson Lopp, suggest that allowing quantum attackers to sweep the coins would be akin to rewarding technological supremacy, preferring a 'burning' mechanism via a soft fork to render outputs unspendable unless migrated to quantum-resistant addresses. Technical timelines for this threat are contested, with some experts urging caution while others note recent research suggesting a faster timeline for breaking current encryption standards. Ultimately, the resolution hinges on governance, timing, and whether the community can reach consensus on preserving fairness versus immutability before the threat materializes.

(Source：CoinDesk)