Bitcoin’s Quantum Risk May Be Real, But the Network Is Preparing: Report
A new report indicates quantum computing poses a real, long-term threat to Bitcoin, but the network is actively developing solutions to mitigate this risk.Summary
Galaxy Digital’s recent report highlights the potential threat of quantum computing to Bitcoin’s security, specifically its reliance on elliptic curve cryptography. A sufficiently advanced quantum computer could compromise private keys, allowing unauthorized spending. However, the report emphasizes this is a long-term challenge, not an immediate crisis, and developers are already working on solutions. These include Pay-to-Merkle-Root (BIP 360), which reduces public key exposure, and exploring post-quantum cryptography like SPHINCS+. The report also notes that most Bitcoin isn't currently vulnerable as wallets only reveal public keys when spending. Successfully implementing these defenses requires network-wide coordination, a historically slow process for Bitcoin, but the shared external threat may foster collaboration. The outcome will depend on the network’s ability to coordinate and prepare before quantum computing capabilities advance sufficiently.
(Source：Bitcoin Magazine)