Odaily Planet News: BTQ Technologies (BTQ), a professional institution specializing in post-quantum cryptography, recently announced a solution for protecting the Bitcoin blockchain. It is called "Bitcoin Quantum," a permissionless fork testnet that is said to be capable of withstanding quantum threats.
Chris Tam, the Partnership Director of BTQ, stated that Bitcoin Quantum is an openly operable network where miners, developers, researchers, and users can conduct stress tests against quantum transactions and reveal real-world trade-offs before discussions on mainnet upgrades become urgent. The system includes a block explorer and mining pool, providing immediate accessibility.
Tam explained that in August 2024, a post-quantum algorithm known as "Dilithium" (officially named ML-DSA, a module lattice-based digital signature algorithm) was standardized in the United States. This is the very technology adopted by the Bitcoin Quantum Network. However, the algorithm has not yet been widely adopted in fast-evolving fields like cryptocurrencies, mainly due to its high operational costs. Compared to the digital signatures currently used when sending information to a blockchain or even sending a WhatsApp message, post-quantum algorithms require data sizes at least 200 times larger. Therefore, although methods exist to address quantum risks, they themselves bring new challenges, primarily in terms of performance and cost when deployed at scale. (Coindesk)