Supply Shock Quantum Computing: How Safe Is Your Bitcoin? | Hunter Beast
Apr 29, 2025
Hunter Beast, a Senior Protocol Engineer for the Enduro sidechain platform and author of BIP-360, dives into the looming threat of quantum computing on Bitcoin. He discusses his proposal to shield Bitcoin from potential vulnerabilities, emphasizing the urgency of quantum-resistant technology. The conversation touches on the need for a new address format and balancing security with efficiency in wallets, as well as the philosophical implications for the cryptocurrency community. Beast advocates for proactive measures to protect Bitcoin's integrity amid these emerging risks.
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Realizing Taproot Vulnerability
- Hunter Beast realized Taproot's vulnerability to quantum computers and found no serious Bitcoin BIP addressing this.
- This motivated him to author BIP 360 to introduce post-quantum cryptography into Bitcoin.
Post-Quantum Cryptography Basics
- Post-quantum cryptography predates elliptic curve cryptography used by Bitcoin.
- It leverages hash-based and lattice-based algorithms more resistant to quantum attacks.
Quantum Threat to Bitcoin Keys
- Quantum computers can reverse public keys using Shor's algorithm, threatening Bitcoin's elliptic curve cryptography.
- Post-quantum algorithms like hash-based signatures significantly resist such quantum attacks.