A new study says it could make Bitcoin’s evolution immune to quantum attacks without changing the rules of the network, a goal that has drawn attention as concern grows over future cryptographic risks.
In a paper published on April 9, Avihu Levy of StarkWare has been explained “Quantum-Safe Bitcoin Transactions Without Softforks,” introducing a protocol called Quantum Safe Bitcoin, or QSB. This structure is intended to protect actions from threats created by quantum computers while compatible with the existing Bitcoin protocol.
The proposal addresses a known risk in Bitcoin’s design. Standard operations depend on ECDSA signals on secp256k1 bent. Theoretically, a computer powerful enough to use Shor’s algorithm can break this system by solving discrete logarithms, which would allow attackers to create signatures and use coins.
QSB replaces the reliance on elliptic curve security with hash-based logic. Instead of relying on ECDSA, the scheme uses it as an authentication mechanism while converting the security to a hash before the denial. This method is based on the first work called Binohashwhich embeds one-time signatures in Bitcoin Script.
At the center of the QSB is a “hash-to-signature” diagram. The system executes the public key from the transaction using RIPEMD-160 and checks the output as an ECDSA signature. Only a small fraction of random hashes meet the strict rules for generating valid signatures, creating a guarantee of service. The paper estimates a probability of success of about one in about 70.4 trillion trials.
Bitcoin is resistant to quantum attacks
Because this graph relies on the shape of the hash instead of the fitness of the elliptic curve, it remains inconsistent with Shor’s algorithm. A quantitative attacker simply obtains the quadratic speed from Grover’s algorithm, leaving a safe margin. This paper estimates the image resistance of 118-bit images again under Shor’s threat.
The project builds within existing Bitcoin limits, including a cap of 201 opcodes and a script size of 10,000 bytes. It uses legacy scripts and avoids any need for concurrent changes or soft forks, which will please developers who care about protocol fragmentation.
The sales process is being done in three stages, the proposal says. First, the “pinning” phase looks for variables that generate a valid hash-to-signature output, tying the transaction to a fixed value. Then, two lines of digest select the smaller parts of the combined signature to create additional references that are attached to the transaction hash. Finally, the application is compiled with all the necessary images and data for verification.
The model introduces tradeoffs. QSB transactions exceed the normal limit, which means that they cannot be propagated through the network in a permanent manner. Instead, they will need to submit directly to miners through services like Slipstream. Documentation also consumes valuable space and computing resources.
Despite these challenges, the cost of creating an acceptable product appears to be within reach. The paper estimates total computing costs between $75 and $150 using cloud GPUs, with workloads increasing on parallel hardware. Initial testing gives successful results after several hours using multiple GPUs.
This work is incomplete. Although the papermaking equipment and documentation have been completed, the pipe sections, including the entire assembly and distribution, have not been shown on the chain.
However, this proposal adds to the growing research on how Bitcoin can be linked to a the future is quantum computing. By avoiding protocol changes, the QSB offers a one-way solution that relies on existing rules instead of raising the bar, an option that would create some controversy over long-term security.
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