In response to the threat of quantum computing, Jameson Lopp, co-founder of Casa, and five other developers recently jointly released a BIP draft proposing a phased elimination of all legacy addresses protected by ECDSA (Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm) and Schnorr signatures to enhance the security of the Bitcoin network.
On July 14, the proposal released on GitHub warned that approximately 25% of the current Bitcoin (including the 1 million BTC suspected to be held by Satoshi Nakamoto) faces the risk of quantum attacks due to public key exposure. Once practical quantum computers are available (estimated as early as 2027-2030), these assets may be stolen.
Phased quantum defense roadmap
The proposal formulates a phased quantum defense plan aimed at systematically improving network security. According to the plan, the plan will be advanced in three key stages:
First, three years after the new P2QRH signature system (defined in BIP-360) is launched, transfers to traditional, vulnerable addresses will be completely prohibited, and all new transactions will be forced to adopt post-quantum cryptographic signatures;
Second, a two-year transition period will be set, at which time the network nodes will completely reject transactions based on traditional signatures such as ECDSA/Schnorr, and assets that are not upgraded in time will be temporarily frozen;
Finally, as a supplementary solution, the proposal also reserves a special channel allowing users holding BIP-39 seeds to recover legacy funds using zero-knowledge proof technology.
This innovative design cleverly transforms technical upgrades into economic incentives, and users who fail to complete the migration on time will also face the risk of permanent asset freeze. The developers specifically warned that exchange hot wallets and institutional custody accounts are likely to be the primary targets of quantum attackers due to the high concentration of funds.
Defense upgrade comparable to the best on the BTC network
It is worth noting that the impact of this upgrade will be the largest in the Bitcoin network, involving nearly a quarter of the current circulating supply of 19.7 million BTC, a scale far exceeding the previous Segregated Witness (SegWit) and Taproot upgrades.
The proposal is still in the refinement stage, and the specific technical parameters and implementation plans remain to be further determined, but it has already triggered extensive discussions in the industry regarding asset disposal and system compatibility.
The development team emphasizes that proactively upgrading is more effective in controlling system risks than passively responding after a quantum attack occurs, so it calls on the entire ecosystem to take action as soon as possible to overcome its long-standing technical upgrade inertia.
In summary, this proposal not only demonstrates the Bitcoin developers' profound insights into the future development of Bitcoin, but also reflects the proactive attitude and innovative spirit of community pioneers in the face of quantum threats.
Conclusion:
Currently, Bitcoin is in a race against time with quantum computing. This is not only a race for technological upgrades, but also the ultimate stress test of decentralized governance capabilities.
If the upgrade is successfully completed, Bitcoin will win the right to survive the next decade in the quantum era; if it fails, it may become the first trillion-dollar digital fortress broken by quantum computers.