Recently, the old #BTC OG, Hashcash (the inventor of Bitcoin mining), @adam3us, published a tweet discussing the latest plans for BTC's post-quantum upgrade. Here’s a brief summary:
🙋 Question raised: Potential crisis for #BTC: Quantum computing is no joke, and the signature mechanism may be compromised.
Once quantum computers become operational, Bitcoin's current signature algorithms (ECDSA, Schnorr) may no longer be secure.
The underlying concerns of this statement are:
• If quantum computing can efficiently run Shor's algorithm, it could derive private keys.
• The security of Bitcoin today largely relies on the asymmetric encryption algorithms ECDSA and Schnorr (which depend on mathematical problems on elliptic curves).
• However, these mathematical problems are not "very hard" in the quantum realm; they are "fundamentally unsustainable."
This is what is referred to as "PQ FUD" (Post-Quantum Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt), which is also part of the long-term trust issues in the BTC market.
🛡️ Solution: SLH-DSA + Taproot, injecting future quantum resistance into #BTC.
“SLH-DSA” is a quantum-resistant signature mechanism based on "hashing" rather than mathematical structures, which can be smoothly integrated into BTC alongside Taproot.
• SLH-DSA (NIST FIPS 205) is currently one of the most advanced quantum-resistant signature algorithms. It is based on SPHINCS+, which in turn is based on Winternitz and Lamport hash signatures—historically established, verified, and theoretically sound.
• Taproot is a major upgrade for BTC in 2021, allowing complex scripts to be hidden behind a regular address. Its design has long considered future pluggable quantum-resistant solutions (for example, tapleaf supports SLH-DSA).
Adam's suggestions are:
• You can migrate to the new address format (including SLH-DSA tapleaf) at some point in the future without incurring the block space and transaction fee costs associated with large signatures right now.
• If the quantum threat becomes real in the future, you can be prepared in advance, rather than being caught off guard.
In simple terms, it’s like having a bomb shelter installed in your home ahead of time; you don’t use it regularly, but you won’t panic if a missile actually comes.
📝 Technical highlights: Quantum resistance relies on "old methods" + "new structures."
• The hash-based structure of SLH-DSA is a direction proposed by cryptographers decades ago, relying not on strange new algorithms but on verifiable and inferable security structures, unlike some NIST candidate solutions that use "unfamiliar mathematical assumptions."
• The current address structure of BTC (taproot/tapleaf) has already reserved space for future expansion, and even the tweaking methods were initially designed with quantum security in mind.
📈 Investment perspective: Risk hedging + new narrative opportunities.
1️⃣ Long-term trust hedging for BTC:
• If the BTC community clearly initiates a roadmap for quantum-resistant upgrades (such as SLH-DSA compatible address standards), it can greatly alleviate concerns that "BTC will be annihilated by quantum computing in the future."
• This is beneficial for hedging long-term systemic risks and maintaining BTC's golden narrative.
2️⃣ Investment opportunities in new address formats/new wallet infrastructure:
• If a new address format is launched, it will drive:
• Wallet support (Ledger, Trezor)
• Node software, browsers (Blockstream, Electrum)
• Probe services (Mempool, Explorer) and other supporting upgrades
• This is equivalent to a mini "infrastructure bull market" opportunity.
3️⃣ Long-term narrative asset layout:
• Favor projects on underlying chains or sidechains that support PQ signatures (SLH-DSA, SPHINCS+);
• If there are BTC-L2 projects that integrate PQ support in advance, they will seize the narrative opportunity, allowing for early positioning in such BTC L2s.
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