Researchers have cut the estimated computing cost of a specialized quantum-safe Bitcoin transaction by 82% to $59. Quantum-Safe Bitcoin Optimization Challenge data put the projected expense at approximately $320 during StarkWare's first mainnet demonstration in August. The challenge data showed that graphics processing software improvements reduced the projected expense to $67 in September. The projected expense reached $59 as of Oct. 13. The improvements could make specialized Bitcoin protection more affordable without requiring changes to the network's underlying protocol.
StarkWare, Yukon Research and Eigen Labs organized the public competition. The competition used AI-assisted coding tools to accelerate the computational searches required for the transactions. The latest benchmark recorded more than 1 billion verified candidates per second on an Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU, up from approximately 146 million initially. However, the $59 figure remains a hardware-dependent estimate from simulated GPU workloads rather than a completed production transaction. Bitcoin network fees are separate, and some computing stages still rely on provisional assumptions. StarkWare said the improvements make the proposed emergency protection method considerably cheaper to prepare, with researchers now targeting a computing cost below $10.
StarkWare researcher Avihu Levy demonstrated in August that Bitcoin could support a quantum-resistant spending arrangement under existing consensus rules. Quantum-Safe Bitcoin (QSB) uses hash-based cryptography and a computational puzzle to protect specially prepared holdings against attacks on conventional digital signatures. QSB lets holders perform the required calculations off-chain before spending their coins. The method could offer interim protection while developers work on broader changes to Bitcoin's cryptographic infrastructure.
Advances in quantum computing have challenged previous estimates of the computing power attackers would need to compromise cryptocurrency security. Google Quantum AI reported in March that future quantum computers could break Bitcoin's elliptic-curve cryptography with substantially fewer resources than previously estimated. Google Quantum AI researchers calculated that certain attacks could theoretically finish in minutes using fewer than 500,000 physical qubits under specified hardware assumptions. The resource estimate represented a roughly 20-fold reduction from earlier estimates. However, such machines remain beyond publicly demonstrated capabilities. The findings have increased pressure on blockchain developers to prepare before quantum attacks become practical.
A Glassnode study found that approximately 6.04 million BTC, representing 30.2% of Bitcoin's issued supply at the time, had public keys already visible on-chain. The study included 1.92 million BTC exposed through underlying address structures. The study included another 4.12 million BTC exposed through practices such as address reuse and previous spending activity. A sufficiently powerful quantum attacker could theoretically derive private keys from exposed public keys and gain control of the associated coins. The threat has fueled debate over how quickly Bitcoin should adopt quantum-resistant cryptography, given the complexity of changing a decentralized network.
QSB protects only eligible coins whose conventional public keys remain hidden until the coins move into specially constructed outputs. Already-exposed holdings remain vulnerable if a capable quantum attacker emerges before owners complete a secure migration. QSB transactions comply with Bitcoin's consensus rules. However, ordinary network relay policies reject QSB transactions, requiring direct submission to miners willing to process the transactions. MARA's Slipstream service provided that route during the August demonstration.
StarkWare continues to favor a broader Bitcoin protocol upgrade for long-term protection. Researchers must demonstrate the latest computing savings in complete transactions and establish dependable miner access before QSB can become a practical fallback for holders.
Bitcoin Quantum-Safe Protection Costs Drop 82% to $59
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Summary
Bitcoin breaking news: Quantum-safe Bitcoin protection costs have dropped 82% to $59, down from $320 in August. Researchers used AI-assisted coding and GPU optimization to cut costs. The method uses hash-based cryptography and computational puzzles. StarkWare, Yukon Research, and Eigen Labs hosted the public competition. Bitcoin news: A Glassnode report shows 6.04 million BTC, or 30.2% of the supply, are at risk from quantum attacks.
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