Bitcoin's $1.3 trillion security race: Key initiatives aimed at quantum-proofing the world's largest blockchain

Developers are considering ways to quantum-proof the world's oldest cryptocurrency as the threat of this computing moves beyond a hypothetical. What to know : Google researchers say a sufficiently powerful quantum computer could break Bitcoin's core cryptography in under nine minutes, raising concerns that such a threat could emerge as soon as 2029. Developers are exploring multiple defenses, including removing on-chain public keys (BIP 360), adopting hash-based post-quantum signatures like SPHINCS+, and using a commit/reveal scheme to shield mempool transactions. Additional proposals such as Hourglass V2 would slow the spending of about 1.7 million already-exposed bitcoins, including Satoshi Nakamoto's, though any changes face debate and slow adoption in Bitcoin's decentralized governance system.