Adam Back Advocates for Optional Quantum-Resistant Upgrade for Bitcoin

Odaily News Blockstream CEO Adam Back posted that Bitcoin should adopt an optional quantum-resistant upgrade scheme, rather than the approach in BIP-361 which mandates freezing tokens threatened by quantum attacks. The BIP-361 proposal suggests gradually phasing out addresses vulnerable to quantum attacks over five years, ultimately freezing unmigrated tokens, including assets held by Satoshi Nakamoto. Recent Google research indicates that a superconducting qubit system might require fewer than 500,000 physical qubits to crack Bitcoin's encryption within minutes. Currently, approximately 6.9 million BTC are exposed to such risks. In response to the quantum threat, BitMEX Research has proposed establishing a canary fund, implementing a full freeze only when related addresses make a spend.