All NewsEducationTV
Equities & FundsCrypto & Digital AssetsAI & TechnologyBusiness & CorporateUS Politics & PolicyGeopolitics & Global RiskMacro, Rates & FXCommodities & EnergyEuropean Politics & MarketsAsia-PacificReal Estate & Property
All NewsHome
← Back to Crypto & Digital Assets

StarkWare tests quantum-resistant Bitcoin transaction on mainnet

Created at 27 Aug · 4:25 AM1 source↑ Market-relevant
IN SHORT

StarkWare has successfully tested an experimental quantum-resistant Bitcoin transaction on the mainnet, demonstrating a method to secure spending against future quantum computers without requiring a network fork. The transaction, however, was costly and required direct submission to miners.

Key Numbers

964,199Bitcoin block number
10,000 satoshioutput spent
$150 to $200transaction cost
9 to 12 minutesestimated quantum computer attack window

Who's Involved

StarkWare
company that tested a quantum-resistant Bitcoin transaction
Avihu Levy
StarkWare researcher who developed and tested the QSB scheme
MARA Pool
miner that confirmed the transaction
Eli Ben-Sasson
CEO of StarkWare
Google researchers
estimated quantum computer threat timeline

↳ Why This Matters

This test demonstrates a practical, albeit costly, method for enhancing Bitcoin's security against future quantum computing threats without immediate network-wide changes, offering a potential interim solution while more robust cryptographic upgrades are developed.

Key facts

  • StarkWare conducted the first known quantum-resistant Bitcoin transaction on the mainnet.
  • The transaction utilized the Quantum Safe Bitcoin (QSB) scheme developed by StarkWare researcher Avihu Levy.
  • The QSB scheme aims to protect Bitcoin transactions from potential quantum computer attacks.
  • The experimental transaction cost between $150 and $200 and required direct submission to miners.
  • This demonstration shows that Bitcoin's existing consensus rules can accommodate quantum-resistant spending without a protocol change.

StarkWare has successfully executed an experimental quantum-resistant transaction on the Bitcoin mainnet, a development described as the first of its kind. The transaction, confirmed in block 964,199, utilized the Quantum Safe Bitcoin (QSB) scheme developed by StarkWare researcher Avihu Levy. This scheme aims to protect Bitcoin spending from potential future attacks by quantum computers by combining hash-based one-time signatures with computational searches.

While the test demonstrates that Bitcoin's current consensus rules can accommodate such quantum-resistant spending without a protocol fork, it comes with significant costs and technical hurdles. The completed transaction incurred expenses between $150 and $200 and required hours of computation. Furthermore, QSB transactions are considered nonstandard by default Bitcoin Core relay policies, necessitating direct submission to miners, such as through MARA Pool's Slipstream service, for confirmation.

Google researchers previously estimated that a powerful quantum computer could potentially derive a Bitcoin private key within minutes of its public key becoming visible, posing a risk to pending transactions. Levy's QSB proposal, introduced in April, is viewed as a last-resort measure rather than a complete replacement for future protocol-level protections. StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson indicated that QSB serves as a safety net while more comprehensive protocol upgrades are developed, noting that a soft fork for such protections is anticipated.

Frequently asked questions

QSB is a method developed by StarkWare that combines hash-based one-time signatures with computational searches to make Bitcoin transactions resistant to attacks from quantum computers.

The process required significant GPU computation, estimated to cost between $150 and $200, and took several hours to generate.

QSB transactions are classified as nonstandard by default Bitcoin Core relay policies, meaning ordinary nodes would not propagate them, necessitating direct submission.

No, this was an experimental transaction. While it demonstrates a quantum-resistant spending method, broader network-level quantum resistance will likely require protocol upgrades.

What Happens Next

01Further development of protocol-level quantum-resistant protections for Bitcoin.
02Consideration of proposals like BIP-360 for soft forks introducing quantum-resistant features.
CME Headlines
  • Bitcoin futures break $80,000 as consumer confidence drops.
    25 Aug · 6:57 PM
  • Bitcoin futures break $80,000 as consumer confidence drops.
    25 Aug · 6:57 PM
  • Can Bitcoin's Long-Term Catalysts Overcome Recent Headwinds?
    24 Aug · 3:00 PM

How It Developed

StarkWare researcher Avihu Levy tested an experimental quantum-resistant transaction on the Bitcoin mainnet.
The transaction was confirmed in Bitcoin block 964,199.
The transaction spent a 10,000-satoshi output protected by Levy’s Quantum Safe Bitcoin (QSB) scheme.
MARA Pool mined the block after receiving the transaction through its Slipstream service.
The QSB scheme combines hash-based one-time signatures with computational searches to prevent forgery by quantum computers.
The completed transaction cost between $150 to $200 and took hours of computation.
Ordinary nodes would not propagate QSB transactions, requiring direct submission to miners.
StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson stated QSB provides a safety net while protocol-level protections are developed.

Sources

T1
StarkWare tests quantum-resistant Bitcoin transaction on mainnetStarkWare said the experimental transaction demonstrated quantum-resistant Bitcoin spending without a fork, but it cost up to $200 and required direct miner submission.Cointelegraph

Related Stories

Ethereum Devs Propose Deposit Contract Overhaul to Quantum-Proof Staking
26 Aug · 3:11 PM
Bitcoin Price Hovering Near $78K Amidst Conflicting Catalysts
26 Aug · 8:26 PM
Coldcard Bug Prompts Shift to Multi-Vendor Multisig for Bitcoin Security
26 Aug · 11:46 PM
Bitcoin Wallets Dormant for Over a Decade Move $40M in One Week
26 Aug · 6:51 PM
Bitcoin Whales Move $5B into BlackRock ETFs via Tax-Deferred Swaps
26 Aug · 6:21 AM