Quantum-Resistant Bitcoin Plan Could Save $75B in Satoshis – Are You Ready?

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Paradigm Researcher Proposes Quantum-Resistant Backup Plan for <a href="https://pricpr.com/btc-usd/">Bitcoin</a>

  • Paradigm researcher Dan Robinson proposed PACTs, letting Bitcoin holders timestamp key ownership silently with no on-chain cost.
  • Satoshi Nakamoto’s 1.1 million BTC, worth over $75 billion, sits in wallets that existing quantum rescue plans cannot cover.
  • A STARK proof tied to a pre-cutoff timestamp would let holders reclaim sunsetted funds without revealing private key details.

A researcher at Paradigm has suggested a way for Bitcoin users to safeguard their funds against future quantum computing threats, and it can be done privately without requiring any transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain.

Dan Robinson first proposed Provable Address-Control Timestamps, known as PACTs, on May 1, 2026.

This system is designed to protect digital addresses that have publicly known keys, as these are at risk of being stolen by powerful quantum computers. Robinson suggests that those who own these addresses can take steps now to secure them, even before any changes to the system are necessary.

Robinson’s Case for a Silent Self-Protective Measure

Robinson’s idea centers on a simple problem: currently, there’s no easy way for Bitcoin users whose public keys are exposed to safeguard their funds.

If a quantum computer became strong enough to uncover private keys, it could be used to steal hundreds of billions of dollars in Bitcoin.

The digital wallets believed to be connected to Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin, currently hold around 1.1 million BTC, which is worth over $75 billion. These wallets were created using an older system and can’t be recovered using current methods designed to help people regain access to lost Bitcoin.

The PACT protocol solves this problem by allowing key holders to create a time-stamped, verifiable record of their ownership using OpenTimestamps.

The service is free, open-source, and batches many commitments into a single Bitcoin transaction. 

This process doesn’t require any action from the user, and their personal information remains private. It only reveals a scrambled code, keeping everything confidential.

To establish a PACT, the owner creates a unique 256-bit secret code and then generates a cryptographic proof demonstrating they control the address at risk.

The evidence and data are combined and secured with a special code, then recorded with a timestamp on the Bitcoin blockchain using OpenTimestamps.

The system securely saves the salt, proof, and timestamp as a backup in case of recovery. This information is never made public or shared across the network.

Robinson emphasized that creating a standard format for PACTs is the most critical first step. With a standard in place, PACT holders could start adding timestamps right away, without needing to wait for any changes to Bitcoin.

This provides the Bitcoin community with more time to prepare for potential threats from quantum computing, avoiding the need for hasty choices. The suggested plan doesn’t demand any immediate commitments or decisions about how to proceed.

How the Rescue Path Would Work Under a Future Fork

If Bitcoin eventually stops supporting addresses susceptible to attacks from quantum computers, Robinson’s plan details how users could protect their funds.

To prove they owned their private key before powerful quantum computers existed, a user would submit a special type of cryptographic proof called a post-quantum STARK proof.

The verification would be tied directly to the specific rescue process, making it impossible to reuse or redirect. The security details, including the salt and BIP-322 proof, would stay concealed throughout.

To qualify for the rescue plan, organizations must have made a PACT commitment before a specific date. This date will be set before experts believe current encryption methods could be compromised.

If someone gains access to a private key using future quantum computers, they wouldn’t be able to create a timestamp from before a specific date. This system clearly distinguishes between original ownership and access gained through quantum computing, providing a way to verify authenticity.

Robinson acknowledged that no guarantee exists that Bitcoin will ever adopt this rescue protocol.

Using multi-signature wallets, complicated scripting, and hardware wallets consistently across all situations still needs more development before PACTs can be relied upon everywhere. For now, consider PACTs as a helpful safety measure, but not a foolproof guarantee.

The low cost of committing, however, makes early action a reasonable choice for long-term holders.

The discussion around Bitcoin’s readiness for quantum computing is still ongoing. Robinson’s suggestion doesn’t settle the question of whether or when Bitcoin should switch to a quantum-resistant system.

As a researcher, I see this as providing the community with another option to consider down the line. For those who have held these assets for a long time and are concerned about privacy – regardless of what happens next – this extra choice could be really important.

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2026-05-02 22:12