StarkWare Successfully Tests Quantum-Resistant Bitcoin Transaction
A team from StarkWare has successfully tested an experimental quantum-resistant Bitcoin transaction on the mainnet, marking a significant step in protecting against potential quantum computer threats.
The transaction was confirmed on Wednesday in block 964,199 and spent a 10,000-satoshi output protected by Avihu Levy's Quantum Safe Bitcoin (QSB) scheme. The test demonstrates that Bitcoin's existing consensus rules can accommodate one form of quantum-resistant spending without a protocol change.
Levy's QSB combines hash-based one-time signatures with computational searches that bind an authorization to a specific transaction, making it difficult for attackers to forge even if they have access to a powerful quantum computer. The team estimates that generating such a transaction requires around $150 to $200 in GPU computation and can take hours.
StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson emphasized the importance of implementing protocol-level protections against quantum threats, noting that QSB provides a safety net while these are being developed. He also hinted at a potential soft fork, stating 'A soft fork should happen, and I believe it will.'