According to BlockBeats, Nic Carter, co-founder of Castle Island Ventures and known as the father of smart contracts, has highlighted concerns regarding the potential threat quantum computing poses to Bitcoin. Carter referenced research by renowned quantum theorist Scott Aaronson, which suggests that quantum computing could potentially crack Bitcoin, presenting a formidable engineering challenge rather than requiring new fundamental physics discoveries.
Carter noted that theoretically, Bitcoin could undergo a soft fork to adopt post-quantum (PQ) signature schemes. While some quantum-resistant encryption signature schemes exist, the main challenge lies in determining the specific post-quantum solution, organizing the soft fork, and laboriously migrating millions of addresses with balances. The mitigation measures necessary to protect Bitcoin from quantum computing threats could take nearly a decade to implement.
Furthermore, a significant amount of vulnerable Bitcoin is stored in abandoned addresses, whose owners cannot be compelled to move their Bitcoin. As a result, even if Bitcoin upgrades to post-quantum signatures, it still faces the risk of 1.7 million Bitcoins being suddenly stolen by quantum attackers. To eliminate this risk, Bitcoin not only needs to upgrade in an orderly and timely manner, but Bitcoin holders must also collectively agree to seize these 1.7 million Bitcoins, an unprecedented action in Bitcoin's history.
Carter urges the Bitcoin community and developers to take immediate mitigation measures rather than adopting a complacent or overly optimistic attitude towards the quantum computing threat.
