BTQ, a Quantum-Resistant Cryptography Institution, Launches "Bitcoin Quantum" Testnet, Quantum-Resistant Fork Enters Practical Testing Phase

Odaily News Quantum-resistant cryptography specialist BTQ Technologies (BTQ) recently unveiled a solution to protect the Bitcoin blockchain: a permissionless fork testnet named "Bitcoin Quantum," which is claimed to be capable of addressing quantum challenges.

Chris Tam, Head of Partnerships at BTQ, stated that Bitcoin Quantum is a publicly operational network where miners, developers, researchers, and users can conduct stress tests on quantum-resistant transactions and reveal the practical trade-offs in operation before discussions about mainnet upgrades become urgent. The system includes a block explorer and a mining pool, providing instant accessibility.

Tam explained that in August 2024, the quantum-resistant algorithm commonly known as "Dilithium" (officially named Module Lattice-based Digital Signature Algorithm, ML-DSA) was standardized in the United States, and this is precisely the technology adopted by the Bitcoin Quantum network. This algorithm has not yet been widely adopted in rapidly innovating fields like cryptocurrency, primarily due to its high operational costs. Compared to the digital signatures currently used every time information is sent to the blockchain or even when sending a WhatsApp message, the data size of quantum-resistant algorithms increases by at least 200 times. Therefore, while methods to counter quantum risks exist, they also bring their own problems, mainly manifesting in performance and cost overhead during large-scale deployment. (Coindesk)