PQC - What is our Goal, Even?

The discussion in the email primarily revolves around considerations and strategic planning concerning Bitcoin migration. The sender, Antoine Poinsot, engages with Matt on the topic of establishing clear objectives for an initial migration phase which would garner wide acceptance among Bitcoin users. Antoine expresses reservations about limiting outputs exclusively to Post-Quantum (PQ) cryptography due to concerns over cost and practicality. However, he acknowledges that a seamless migration process is essential to ensure broad user adoption.

Antoine also addresses the complexities involved in deciding ownership of coins if certain users fail to migrate. He emphasizes the importance of not positioning any single entity as the sole arbiter in such scenarios, hinting at ethical concerns and the potential for misuse under the guise of 'migration'. He critically views the emerging trend of referring to such actions as 'deprecation', suggesting it could undermine Bitcoin's value and its perception among users.

Moreover, Antoine proposes an additional goal for the migration strategy: maintaining consensus until more definitive progress is made towards understanding the risks and realities of Cryptographically Relevant Quantum Computers (CRQC). He points out the polarized views within the community, where some see the emergence of CRQC as inevitable, while others dismiss it outright. His stance advocates for a balanced approach that safeguards Bitcoin's integrity in the interim, especially if CRQCs do not materialize in the near future. This perspective underscores the need for a cautious yet flexible strategy in dealing with future technological uncertainties impacting Bitcoin.