Bitcoin Audible Read_913 - The Quantum Threat to Bitcoin [FFR]
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Nov 8, 2025 Explore Bitcoin's vulnerability to quantum computing with insights from the Human Rights Foundation. Delve into the potential risks, including long and short-range attacks, and the critical infrastructure factors that heighten exposure. Learn about the necessary redesigns for wallets and recovery processes in a post-quantum world. The discussion also tackles moral dilemmas like whether to burn vulnerable coins and the challenges of coordinating community response for a quantum-safe transition. Ultimately, it captures the urgency and complexity of adapting to this emerging threat.
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Quantum Threat Needs Urgent Attention
- Quantum computers could plausibly arrive within 5–20 years and demand proactive planning today.
- The Human Rights Foundation argues this is a human-rights issue because activists rely on Bitcoin's security.
Millions Of BTC Are Long‑Range Vulnerable
- About 6.51 million BTC are exposed to long-range quantum attacks via old address types or reused addresses.
- 1.72 million BTC are likely dormant with exposed public keys and cannot be migrated by their owners.
Transactions Are Temporarily Exposed
- Short-range attacks let a CRQC derive a private key from an unconfirmed transaction and steal funds in real time.
- Until Bitcoin adopts post‑quantum signatures, every transaction is transiently vulnerable during broadcast.