Coinbase, which holds approximately 5% of the current Bitcoin supply, said the transition to post-quantum security could take years and called for preparations to begin early.
According to Wu Blockchain, the major cryptocurrency exchange shared its technical recommendations for Bitcoin’s transition to post-quantum security. The company’s approach is based on a phased transition, in which new security mechanisms are supported alongside existing signatures for a time, rather than changing the entire system all at once.
How could the transition work for Bitcoin?
Coinbase listed BIP-360 (P2MR) and P2TRv2 among the flexible designs that could be considered. The proposal involves supporting post-quantum signatures alongside the existing signature mechanisms used in Bitcoin transactions and carrying out the transition gradually.
According to the company, preparations need to begin early because this transition could span years. The call focuses on how Bitcoin’s security structure can be prepared for future quantum risks.
Inactive wallets should not delay the transition
Another issue Coinbase emphasized was inactive funds, wallets with lost private keys, and wallets that do not migrate to the new system. The company recommended addressing questions about how to handle these assets separately.
This is intended to ensure that debates over old or non-compliant wallets do not delay Bitcoin’s broader post-quantum security upgrades.
Not investment advice.