According to The Block, StarkWare researcher Avihu Levy published a paper proposing the Quantum Safe Bitcoin (QSB) scheme, which enables quantum-resistant transactions under existing Bitcoin script rules without requiring a soft fork. The scheme replaces elliptic curve cryptography with a "hash-to-signature" puzzle using the RIPEMD-160 hash algorithm to enhance resistance against quantum attacks. The paper notes that, at present, the cost of a single QSB transaction is approximately $75 to $150—significantly higher than current average transaction fees—and the user experience is complex, suggesting adoption only as a "last resort." The scheme remains limited by script opcode and size constraints and does not yet support all use cases, such as the Lightning Network. Compared to the BIP-360 proposal, which requires protocol-level changes, QSB does not modify the Bitcoin protocol layer but is still in an experimental stage.
StarkWare Researcher Proposes Quantum-Safe Bitcoin Transaction Scheme Without Soft Fork
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Summary
StarkWare researcher Avihu Levy has proposed a Quantum Safe Bitcoin (QSB) scheme that eliminates the need for a soft fork upgrade. The method replaces elliptic curve cryptography with RIPEMD-160 hash puzzles to provide quantum resistance. Transaction costs range from $75 to $150, which is higher than average, and the process is complex. The design is not suitable for all use cases and does not support the Lightning Network. Unlike BIP-360, which requires protocol changes, QSB remains protocol-neutral. The proposal is experimental and not a hard fork announcement.
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