Bitcoin Devs Propose Nuclear Option: Freezing Quantum-Vulnerable Wallets—Including Satoshi’s

Bitcoin’s guardians are drafting a radical defense against the quantum apocalypse—and no one’s coins are safe.

The Quantum Countdown Begins

Core developers are floating a protocol update to preemptively freeze wallets vulnerable to quantum attacks, a move that could lock even Satoshi Nakamoto’s legendary 1M BTC stash. The bombshell proposal exposes crypto’s existential race: outpace quantum computing… or perish.

Cold Wallets, Hot Problem

Legacy addresses using single-key ECDSA signatures—common among early adopters—are sitting ducks for quantum decryption. While exchanges migrated to quantum-resistant multisig, an estimated 4M BTC (20% of supply) remains in high-risk wallets. ‘It’s like leaving gold bars in a cardboard safe,’ admits one dev.

The Nakamoto Paradox

Here’s the kicker: The plan would force-migrate inactive wallets, including Satoshi’s. Some call it prudent hygiene; others decry ‘theft-by-update.’ Meanwhile, Wall Street quant shops quietly double their quantum computing budgets—because nothing unites rivals like a chance to crack crypto’s Fort Knox.

*‘We’ll know quantum supremacy is real when VCs start shorting Satoshi’s coins.’*

But Why Now?

Bitcoin’s cryptography has never faced an existential threat and still doesn’t, except pre-emptive ones that can possibly target early wallets. Researchers say quantum computers capable of breaking ECDSA may arrive as soon as 2027.

A May report by CoinDesk flagged a new study suggesting that breaking RSA encryption with quantum computers may require 20 times fewer resources than previously thought.

Although Bitcoin uses elliptic curve cryptography, it remains vulnerable to quantum attacks similar to those threatening RSA. Current quantum computers are not yet capable of breaking these encryption methods, but research is rapidly advancing.

Earlier in July, eight legacy Bitcoin wallets moved over $8.5 billion worth of 'Satoshi-era' bitcoin after 15 years of dormancy — sparking speculation, among some, about moving to wallets with improved security as

That’s the red line for Lopp and the team.

Around 25% of all bitcoin have exposed their public keys, meaning they’re vulnerable to a “Q-day” style attack. If attackers are patient, they could use quantum tools to quietly drain dormant wallets over time without tripping alarms.

“Quantum attackers could compute the private key for known public keys then transfer all funds weeks or months later, in a covert bleed to not alert chain watchers,” the draft proposal stated. “Q-Day may be only known much later if the attack withholds broadcasting transactions in order to postpone revealing their capabilities.”

The proposal is still in draft stage and has no BIP number yet. And it may be the only way Bitcoin survives a quantum future.