Quantum threat has develop into a recurring stress level in Bitcoin discourse, usually framed as an existential risk. The declare often follows a well-recognized arc: quantum computing is advancing rapidly, cryptography is weak, and Bitcoin isn’t adapting quick sufficient.
Marty Bent doesn’t purchase that framing. In his Dec. 14 episode, Bent acknowledged that quantum computing represents a real threat — not only for Bitcoin, however for any system constructed on trendy cryptography — whereas pushing again on the concept Bitcoin builders are ignoring the difficulty.
“Quick reply is sure, it’s a threat,” Bent mentioned. “Nevertheless it’s not solely a threat for Bitcoin. It’s a threat for any system that relies on cryptography for safety.”
What Builders Are Doing To Make Bitcoin Quantum-Secure
What tends to get misplaced, he argued, is the work already underway. Bent pointed to ongoing developer discussions and, extra lately, a analysis paper printed by Blockstream’s Jonas Nick and Mikhail Kutunov analyzing hash-based, post-quantum signature schemes tailor-made particularly for Bitcoin.
“I simply needed to make this video to push again on that notion,” Bent mentioned, referring to claims that Bitcoin isn’t transferring quick sufficient. “As a result of I feel it’s fairly clear in case you’ve been following Bitcoin improvement discussions over the past yr, the quantum threat is actually being taken severely and the conversations have began.”
Nick summarized the paper in a Dec. 9 publish on X, describing it as an evaluation of post-quantum schemes optimized for Bitcoin’s constraints relatively than generic cryptographic benchmarks. Bent described the work as a sign that analysis is shifting from summary concern to concrete design area.
Hash-based signatures are conceptually easy and rely solely on hash features, which is a primitive Bitcoin already trusts.
Whereas NIST has standardized SLH-DSA (SPHINCS+), we examine alternate options which can be higher suited to Bitcoin’s particular wants.
— ncklr (@n1ckler) December 9, 2025
Nick wrote through X: “Hash-based signatures are conceptually easy and rely solely on hash features, which is a primitive Bitcoin already trusts. Whereas NIST has standardized SLH-DSA (SPHINCS+), we examine alternate options which can be higher suited to Bitcoin’s particular wants. We discover intimately how varied optimizations and parameter selections have an effect on dimension and efficiency. Signature dimension could be lowered to ~3-4KB, which is similar to lattice-based signature schemes (ML-DSA).”
The problem, Bent emphasised, isn’t a scarcity of candidate options. It’s that Bitcoin is a globally distributed system with almost 17 years of operational historical past, and modifications on the protocol stage include heavy trade-offs.
“Bitcoin is a globally distributed peer-to-peer system that relies on consensus protocol guidelines which can be very laborious to vary,” Bent mentioned. “And you actually don’t wish to change them too usually.”
That actuality complicates any transition to quantum-resistant signatures. Present deal with sorts, HD wallets, multisig setups, and threshold schemes all must be thought of. And past compatibility, there’s the query of efficiency.
“One of many largest hurdles when approaching this drawback in Bitcoin is that many quantum-resistant schemes are very information intensive,” Bent mentioned. “Sure, there are various completely different schemes that may be carried out. Nonetheless, they arrive with trade-offs — notably verification and bandwidth trade-offs.”
Bigger signatures can gradual block propagation and make it costlier to run a full node, which immediately impacts decentralization. The Blockstream paper focuses closely on that rigidity, exploring optimizations that might cut back signature sizes to some kilobytes whereas protecting verification prices manageable.
“They really feel fairly assured that they’ve executed the analysis to search out signature schemes that will have a pleasant trade-off stability,” Bent mentioned. “You get quantum resistance, however on the similar time it stays conducive for folks to obtain full nodes and confirm transactions while not having a big quantity of bandwidth and information storage.”
Bent was cautious to not body the analysis as a completed resolution. As an alternative, he described it as groundwork — mapping the issue area early so the community isn’t caught flat-footed if quantum capabilities advance sooner than anticipated.
“That is under no circumstances like, ‘hey, we solved the issue,’” he mentioned. “However we’re taking this drawback severely, doing analysis and starting to determine methods during which we may remedy the quantum threat that will or could not manifest within the medium to long run.”
He additionally famous that BTC tends to be singled out in quantum discussions, although many of the web depends on cryptographic assumptions that will face related stress in a real post-quantum state of affairs.
“If quantum computer systems do come, Bitcoin just isn’t the one factor,” Bent mentioned. “Virtually all the pieces you contact on the web is relying on some cryptographic safety in some unspecified time in the future.”
Everybody’s panicking about quantum computing killing bitcoin.
However they’re ignoring what simply received launched.@martybent explains. pic.twitter.com/uyRIjpGuNY
— TFTC (@TFTC21) December 14, 2025
For now, Bent’s takeaway was measured. Quantum threat exists. Progress in quantum computing is actual. However the narrative that builders are ignoring the difficulty doesn’t align with what’s occurring in technical circles.
“Very good builders, cryptographers extra importantly, are researching the issue,” he mentioned. “If you already know the place to look, it’s fairly clear that persons are getting ready for this.” Not solved. Not ignored. Simply quietly being labored on.
At press time, BTC traded at $89,854.
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