According to Odaily Odaily, BTQ Technologies (BTQ), a professional organization specializing in quantum-resistant cryptography, recently announced a solution to protect the Bitcoin blockchain: a permissionless fork testnet called "Bitcoin Quantum," which is said to be able to withstand quantum challenges.
Chris Tam, Head of Partnerships at BTQ, stated that Bitcoin Quantum is a publicly accessible network where miners, developers, researchers, and users can stress-test against quantum transactions and uncover trade-offs in real-world operation before mainnet upgrade discussions become urgent. The system includes block explorers and mining pools, providing immediate accessibility.
Tam explained that in August 2024, the quantum-resistant algorithm, commonly known as "Dilithium" (officially called the Modular Lattice-Based Digital Signature Algorithm ML-DSA), was standardized in the United States. This algorithm is the technology used in the Bitcoin quantum network. This algorithm has not yet been widely adopted in rapidly innovating fields such as cryptocurrencies, primarily due to its high operating costs. Compared to the digital signatures currently used to send messages to the blockchain, even WhatsApp messages, the data size of quantum-resistant algorithms is at least 200 times larger. Therefore, while methods to address quantum risks exist, they also present their own problems, mainly in terms of performance and cost during large-scale deployment. (Coindesk)
