Quantum-Safe Bitcoin Transactions Get Cheaper

A new optimization challenge has significantly reduced the estimated GPU cost of constructing a quantum-safe Bitcoin transaction. From an initial estimate of $320, it has fallen to approximately $67 in just one week, according to current benchmark records.

The challenge, run by StarkWare and others, aims to make quantum-safe transactions more viable as a backup option for holders with unexposed public keys. The latest submissions have increased transaction-pinning throughput on an RTX 4090 from about 146 million to over 820 million verified candidates per second.

While cost is still a significant barrier, the estimated $67 per transaction is getting closer to being a feasible emergency option for holders with large unexposed balances. However, it's essential to note that quantum-safe transactions are nonstandard and require direct miner submission.