Bitcoin's Lightning Network Gets Quantum-Proof Upgrade

East Texas A&M University has launched PQLN (Post-Quantum Lightning Network), a quantum-resistant cryptography implementation for Bitcoin's Lightning Network. The team published their research on September 12, 2026, aiming to protect critical functions of the network from potential quantum attacks.

PQLN layers lattice-based algorithms ML-DSA and ML-KEM on top of existing secp256k1 cryptography without replacing it. This approach ensures interoperability with legacy nodes and doesn't significantly impact performance, clocking in at 0.33 milliseconds or less per operation.

The codebase is available on GitHub for public review, with over 11,000 lines added to a fork of rust-lightning. The researchers tested PQLN across 12 mixed-node test scenarios, achieving zero stuck payments and encouraging signs that the rollout wouldn't split the network.