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CryptoUpdated×8•Originally published 12 April 2026•Updated 14 April 2026•

1 min read

Bitcoin Developers Launch Quantum-Resistant Wallet Prototype to Protect 6.9M BTC

Golden Bitcoin coins and wallets in front of the US Capitol building and American flag, with an upward trend graph.

Key Facts

1Researchers proposed a method to protect Bitcoin from future quantum computing attacks without requiring a network fork.

2The proposed mechanism relies on a transaction design that works within existing network rules and does not require miner signaling.

about 2 months ago

Version History

7 additional sources confirmed this story

Version 8about 2 months ago

What changed: The story evolved from a theoretical proposal to a functional zk-STARK-based wallet prototype designed to protect 6.9 million BTC.

Version 7about 2 months ago

What changed: Added Bernstein's 3-5 year timeline for quantum threats and identified Google Quantum AI as the source for the 9-minute compromise research.

Version 6about 2 months ago

What changed: Added details regarding StarkWare's new QSB proposal which enables quantum resistance without a soft fork, while noting its high computational costs.

Version 5about 2 months ago

What changed: Updated the story to include Ethereum's 2029 quantum-safe roadmap and the technical trade-offs regarding transaction sizes and network decentralization.

Version 4about 2 months ago

What changed: Updated the story to include Bernstein's view that risks are priced in, a specific 3-5 year upgrade timeline, and Google's technical benchmark regarding the 9-minute encryption crack time.

Version 3about 2 months ago

What changed: The story was updated to quantify the scale of the quantum vulnerability, noting that billions of dollars across thousands of dormant accounts are at risk.

Version 2about 2 months ago

What changed: Identified dormant wallets with exposed public keys as the primary vulnerability to quantum computing attacks.

Version 1about 2 months ago

What changed: The story was updated to include Michael Saylor's comments identifying a $60,000 price floor and downplaying the immediate threat of quantum computing.

Bitcoin developers, led by Lightning Labs CTO Olaoluwa Osuntokun, have reached a significant milestone by building a functional quantum-resistant wallet prototype based on zk-STARK technology. This tool is specifically designed to protect up to 6.9 million BTC from being frozen or stolen should the network activate emergency security measures against quantum attacks. The prototype enables users to securely recover funds even if the network undergoes a lockdown or a fundamental change in its core cryptographic protocols. This advancement builds upon the 'Quantum Safe Bitcoin' (QSB) scheme previously proposed by StarkWare's Avihu Levy to avoid protocol soft forks. The development is timely, as Bernstein analysts project viable quantum threats to emerge within 3-5 years, potentially compromising current ECDSA encryption. While previous proposals faced high computational costs, this working prototype marks a shift from theoretical defense to practical readiness for the quantum era.