
BIP 360, merged into Bitcoin's repository on February 11, 2026, proposes Pay-to-Merkle-Root (P2MR) outputs to support quantum-safe signatures like Dilithium, enabling gradual upgrades without network forks. Bitcoin's "Q-Day" preparations outpace traditional systems like 401(k)s, which still rely on vulnerable RSA/ECDSA, highlighting cryptocurrency's edge in adapting to quantum threats estimated by IBM to arrive by 2035.
