BIP 361 Quantum Soft Fork of BTC

yesterday

Post Quantum Migration and Legacy Signature Sunset

"Abstract: This proposal follows the implementation of any post-quantum (PQ) output type and introduces a pre-announced sunset of legacy ECDSA/Schnorr signatures. It turns quantum security into a private incentive: fail to upgrade and you will encounter additional friction to access your funds, creating a certainty where none previously existed.

Phase A: Disallows sending of any funds to quantum-vulnerable addresses, hastening the adoption of PQ address types.

Phase B: Renders ECDSA/Schnorr spends invalid, preventing all spending of funds in quantum-vulnerable UTXOs. This is triggered by a well-publicized flag-day five years after activation.

Phase C (TBD): Pending further research, a separate BIP proposing a method to allow quantum safe recovery of legacy UTXOs, likely via zero knowledge proof of possession of a corresponding BIP-39 seed phrase."

https://www.bip361.org/

"March 20, 2023/News Releases: Cleveland Clinic and IBM Unveil First Quantum Computer Dedicated to Healthcare Research

IBM Quantum System One deployed at Cleveland Clinic as part of landmark 10-year partnership"

https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2023/03/20/cleveland-clinic-and-ibm-unveil-first-quantum-computer-dedicated-to-healthcare-research

"academic road-maps now estimate a cryptographically-relevant quantum computer as early as 2027–2030, per McKinsey."

"Rationale: Even if Bitcoin is not a primary initial target of a cryptographically relevant quantum computer, widespread knowledge that such a computer exists and is capable of breaking Bitcoin's cryptography will damage faith in the network." (See More)