Bitcoin’s post-quantum migration will be harder than Taproot and needs to start now, Project Eleven CEO says
Alex Pruden said the asymmetry between acting on a post-quantum signature scheme today and waiting for certainty about quantum-computing hardware timelines means Bitcoin developers should move from research into production.
AI Summary
Bitcoin's developer community should begin transitioning to post-quantum signature schemes now rather than waiting for certainty about quantum computing timelines, according to Project Eleven CEO Alex Pruden. He argued that the asymmetry favors acting early, as the worst case of moving late—quantum computers deriving private keys from public keys—is far worse than the cost of implementing new cryptography prematurely. Unlike Taproot, which was optional and took five years to implement, a post-quantum migration would require participation from every Bitcoin user, wallet, and exchange to maintain security.