2 months ago
Adam Back suggested that the emergence of quantum computing could unit Satoshi Nakamoto to determination their Bitcoin to support it, revealing whether they are alive.
Early cypherpunk Adam Back, cited by Satoshi Nakamoto successful the Bitcoin achromatic paper, suggested that quantum computing unit volition apt uncover whether the blockchain’s pseudonymous creator is alive.
During an interrogation aft a Q&A league astatine the “Satoshi Spritz” lawsuit successful Turin connected April 18, Back suggested that quantum computing whitethorn unit Nakamoto to determination their Bitcoin (BTC). That’s because, according to Back, Bitcoin holders volition beryllium forced to determination their assets to newer, quantum-resistant signature-based addresses.
Back said existent quantum computers bash not airs a credible threat to Bitcoin’s cryptography, but apt volition endanger it successful the future. Back estimated that quantum computers could go unsafe successful “maybe 20 years.”
When the menace becomes real, Back said the Bitcoin assemblage volition person to take betwixt deprecating old, susceptible addresses oregon letting those funds beryllium stolen:
“If the quantum computers are here, and radical astatine universities and probe labs person access, the web has a prime to either fto radical bargain them oregon to frost them — to deprecate the signature.“Back expects the assemblage to spell with the erstwhile option, forcing Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator to determination their funds if they privation to debar losing them.
Privacy upgrades could complicate proof
Still, Back said that whether specified a concern volition uncover if Satoshi Nakamoto is live besides depends connected Bitcoin’s aboriginal privateness features.
“It depends a spot connected the technology, determination are immoderate probe ideas that could adhd privateness to Bitcoin,” Back said. “So, perchance determination mightiness beryllium a mode to hole quantum issues portion keeping privacy.“
Related: Lawyer sues US Homeland Dept to probe expected Satoshi Nakamoto meeting
Still, not everyone is convinced that — privateness enhancements oregon not — specified a script would uncover if Nakamoto is alive. An anonymous aboriginal Bitcoin miner and subordinate of the Bitcoin assemblage told Cointelegraph that helium does not expect Nakamoto’s coins to beryllium moved:
“Even if helium is live and holds the backstage keys, I bash not deliberation he’d determination them. Based connected however helium acted truthful acold I would alternatively expect him to fto the assemblage to decide.”He added that, since this is simply a arguable choice, it makes consciousness to fto the assemblage decide. He said that he’d beryllium amazed if Nakamoto came retired of the woodwork present to determination the assets.
A quantum-resistant Bitcoin
Back explained that astir quantum-resistant signature implementations are either unproven successful presumption of information oregon precise costly from a information perspective. He cited Lamport signatures arsenic an aged and proven design, but pointed retired that they measurement tens of kilobytes.
Consequently, helium suggested that Bitcoin should beryllium prepared to power to quantum-resistant signatures but lone bash truthful erstwhile necessary. He suggests a Bitcoin taproot-based implementation allowing addresses to power to quantum-resistant signatures erstwhile needed.
Magazine: Bitcoin vs. the quantum machine threat: Timeline and solutions (2025–2035)
English (US) 