bitcoin-dev

Proposal for Quantum-Resistant Cryptography in Bitcoin - BIP Submission

Original Postby Agustin Cruz

Posted on: October 17, 2024 22:54 UTC

The proposal for a Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP) focuses on introducing quantum-resistant cryptography into the Bitcoin protocol, addressing the emerging threat posed by advancements in quantum computing.

The integration of post-quantum cryptographic algorithms, specifically SPHINCS+ and Dilithium, is central to this initiative, aiming to enhance Bitcoin's long-term security posture. To accommodate these new algorithms, the proposal suggests several key modifications including the introduction of a new Bech32-based address format designed for quantum-resistant addresses, adjustments to transaction structures, and script opcodes to support the increased signature sizes necessitated by quantum-resistant algorithms.

Furthermore, the BIP outlines a transition mechanism that would be implemented via a soft fork. This approach is designed to ensure backward compatibility with existing Bitcoin addresses and transactions, thereby smoothing the transition for users and maintaining the integrity of the Bitcoin network as it adopts these significant security enhancements.

The proposal is comprehensive and has been made available for community review and feedback at the following URL: https://github.com/chucrut/bips/blob/master/bip-xxxx.md. The proposer, Agustín Cruz, emphasizes the importance of community input in refining and improving the proposal, signaling an openness to suggestions that could further optimize the proposed integration of quantum-resistant features into the Bitcoin protocol.