New Bitcoin Post-Quantum Work Undercuts ‘No One Is Building’ Claims
Bitcoin core developer Matt Corallo refutes claims that no serious work is being done on post-quantum cryptography for Bitcoin, pointing to Blockstream's new proposal, OP_SHRINCSVERIFY. This opcode enables SHRINCS, a hybrid hash-based signature scheme combining stateless and stateful elements, aiming for efficient 324-byte signatures with static backups. The topic is gaining traction, with multiple sessions on quantum risks and solutions scheduled at the OPNEXT 2026 conference, featuring speakers from institutions like BlackRock and Coinbase. While SHRINCS offers significant size advantages over NIST alternatives, it remains an open research proposal with unresolved questions. The development underscores that Bitcoin's post-quantum efforts are advancing with concrete proposals, moving beyond theoretical discussion.
bitcoinist02/27 22:02
