MicroStrategy leader Michael Saylor warns that the biggest risk for Bitcoin is ambitious opportunists suggesting protocol changes.
The statement comes at the same time as Coinbase and the Ethereum network take steps to address one of Bitcoin's most fundamental long-term threats: quantum computers.
Bitcoin's quantum dilemma puts the protocol debate in focus
The co-founder of MicroStrategy refers to protocol ossification as Bitcoin's most important defense. According to Michael Saylor, internal attempts to 'improve' the network pose a greater danger than external technological threats.
This statement highlights Bitcoin's role as neutral digital money, particularly in debates such as the BIP-110 soft fork proposal.
BIP-110, which has 2.38% node support as of January 25, 2026, aims to temporarily limit transaction data (e.g., OP_RETURN to 83 bytes) to combat 'spam' from non-monetary use cases.
The discussion leads to a split in the community between purists who prefer Bitcoin Knots and those who use Bitcoin Core for broader purposes.
Some developers express concern about hasty or politically motivated changes, while others point out that ignoring new risks can itself become a threat.
This tension is now even more evident as Coinbase announces the establishment of an independent advisory board dedicated to quantum computers and blockchain security.
The council will investigate how future advancements in large quantum computers could threaten Bitcoin's cryptographic foundation. The council will publish public research, risk assessments, and technical guidance for the entire ecosystem.
At the core of the concern is elliptic curve cryptography (ECC), which underpins Bitcoin's ECDSA and Schnorr signatures.
In theory, a sufficiently powerful quantum computer running Shor’s algorithm could derive private keys from public keys, enabling attackers to forge transactions or drain exposed wallets.
Although such machines still lie at least 5 years ahead, the long timeline for secure protocol transitions has made quantum security an increasing priority.
Coinbase's advisory board gathers leading figures in cryptography and quantum research, including:
Stanford professor Dan Boneh
Quantum theorist Scott Aaronson at the University of Texas
Ethereum Foundation researcher Justin Drake, and
EigenLayer founder Sreeram Kannan.
According to Coinbase, the council will operate independently and publish position notes on the status of quantum computers.
They will also develop guidance for developers and institutions, as well as respond in real-time to important breakthroughs.
Bitcoin's quantum discussion moves from theory to engineering reality
The initiative reflects a broader shift in how the Bitcoin development community addresses the issue.
Data from 2025 shows a clear increase in discussions related to quantum security on Bitcoin mailing lists, where over 10% of communication now concerns post-quantum security. This is particularly remarkable after several years of near-total silence.
The conversation has now shifted from being a theoretical discussion to concrete technical questions, such as how Bitcoin can migrate from ECC to post-quantum signatures through soft forks without disrupting the network.
Despite this development, most researchers warn against rushing protocol changes. The prevailing view is that one should wait for post-quantum cryptography standards from organizations like NIST to mature, instead of pushing through premature upgrades that could lead to vulnerabilities.
In this sense, Coinbase's move is presented as preparation, not panic. The aim is to ensure that Bitcoin and other blockchains have credible migration paths long before quantum attacks become a practical threat.
The contrast with Ethereum is also becoming clearer. The Ethereum Foundation has recently declared post-quantum security as a top strategic priority. With this, they are initiating:
Dedicated teams
Funding for cryptographic research, and
Development of live post-quantum devnet environments.
Ethereum representatives now sit on Coinbase's advisory board, emphasizing that quantum readiness is increasingly viewed as a chain-agnostic, industry-wide challenge.
As quantum research accelerates and institutions take a more active role in ensuring that the crypto infrastructure is future-proof, it may become harder to maintain this balance.
