Bitcoin onchain analyst James Check emphasized that the quantum threat to Bitcoin is more about consensus than technology. Development politics may hinder the community’s ability to freeze BTC in non-quantum-resistant addresses, potentially flooding the market with lost Bitcoin when quantum computer attacks are feasible.

BitBo data reveals that a significant percentage of Bitcoin has not been moved in years, raising questions about how much is lost or inaccessible. Check’s comments respond to Ceteris Paribus of Delphi Digital, noting that the quantum threat to Bitcoin is unique due to the secondary tech problem.

The US NIST has endorsed post-quantum public-key cryptography schemes, laying the foundation for quantum-resistant Bitcoin addresses. Implementing these standards may be necessary as current ECDSA and Schnorr signatures are vulnerable to quantum computers, posing a challenge for the large amount of Bitcoin in non-quantum-resistant addresses.

Adam Back suggests that quantum computing could reveal if Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, is alive. While a new post-quantum signature standard may be needed to address the quantum threat, Bitcoin’s resilience to quantum computing is expected for the next few decades, according to Back.

Researchers have unveiled a quantum-resistant fix for certain blockchains like Sui and Solana that does not require signature switching. This approach leverages the Edwards-curve Digital Signature Algorithm to protect older addresses without impacting Ethereum and Bitcoin, providing a potential solution to the quantum threat for some networks.

Read more at Cointelegraph: Bitcoin Faces a Quantum Governance Crisis Over Lost Coins