finance
Research Proposal Outlines Quantum-Resistant Bitcoin Transactions Without Protocol Changes
A new research paper proposes a method to secure Bitcoin transactions against quantum computer threats without altering the network's core protocol. The approach, called Quantum Safe Bitcoin or QSB, relies on hash-based security instead of elliptic curve digital signatures. The proposal was published on April 9, 2026, by Avihu Levy of StarkWare.
Apr 11, 7:50 PM·2m read1 source
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A research proposal published on April 9, 2026, introduces a method to make Bitcoin transactions resistant to quantum computing attacks without requiring changes to the network's core protocol. The paper, titled “Quantum-Safe Bitcoin Transactions Without Softforks,” was authored by Avihu Levy of StarkWare.
It describes a scheme known as Quantum Safe Bitcoin, or QSB, which aims to address potential vulnerabilities in Bitcoin's current cryptographic design.
Bitcoin's standard transactions use ECDSA signatures based on the secp256k1 elliptic curve. Quantum computers running Shor's algorithm could potentially solve the discrete logarithm problem, allowing attackers to forge signatures and access funds. The QSB proposal seeks to mitigate this risk while maintaining compatibility with the existing Bitcoin protocol.
The QSB system shifts security from elliptic curve assumptions to hash pre-image resistance. It employs ECDSA only for verification purposes. This design builds on prior work called Binohash, which integrates one-time signature schemes into Bitcoin Script.
the heart of QSB is a hash-to-signature puzzle.
The system generates a hash of a transaction-derived public key using RIPEMD-160 and uses the output as a candidate ECDSA signature. Only a small fraction of such hashes comply with the formatting rules for valid ECDSA signatures, which creates a proof-of-work condition.
The paper estimates the probability of finding a valid hash at approximately 1 in 2^160, based on the hash function's output space.
This rarity ensures that generating a valid signature requires significant computational effort, akin to proof-of-work in Bitcoin mining. Successful implementation would protect transaction security without needing network-wide upgrades.
