New Bitcoin Improvement Proposal Aims To Solve Future Quantum Security Risks

A new Bitcoin Improvement Proposal, introduced by Jameson Lopp, outlines a phased migration to post-quantum cryptography and warns that holders who fail to upgrade will certainly lose access to their funds. The proposal says future quantum computers could break the ECDSA and Schnorr signatures that protect private keys, and it states that roughly 25% of all bitcoin have exposed public keys on-chain. Phase A would prohibit sending bitcoin to quantum-vulnerable addresses, and Phase B, expected two years later, would make ECDSA and Schnorr transactions invalid, effectively freezing unmigrated funds. Phase C remains optional and may offer a recovery path using proof of possession of a BIP-39 seed phrase.