- Michael Saylor proposed a Bitcoin network upgrade to address quantum computing risks.
- The upgrade involves a backward-incompatible “hard fork” to freeze vulnerable pay to public key (P2PK) outputs.
- The change would reduce Bitcoin supply, increase security, and strengthen the network.
- The proposal would freeze coins belonging to early Bitcoin users, including Satoshi Nakamoto.
- The idea received widespread criticism and concerns about its complexity and risks.
Michael Saylor, founder of Strategy, announced on December 16, 2025, that quantum computers will not break the Bitcoin network. Instead, he suggested a network upgrade through a hard fork—a type of update that is not backward compatible. This upgrade would freeze specific Bitcoin outputs vulnerable to quantum attacks and adjust the network for better security.
The proposed hard fork would target pay to public key (P2PK) outputs that quantum computers could potentially compromise. These outputs expose private keys early, making them accessible once large quantum computers capable of running Shor’s algorithm exist. The upgrade would freeze these vulnerable coins, including those owned by Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. The change would also reduce the overall Bitcoin supply while improving the security and strength of the blockchain.
On the social platform X, Saylor explained, “The Bitcoin Quantum Leap: Quantum computing won’t break Bitcoin—it will harden it. The network upgrades, active coins migrate, lost coins stay frozen. Security goes up. Supply comes down. Bitcoin grows stronger.” The transition would require nodes and miners to adopt new software that is not backward compatible.
Reactions to the proposal were largely negative. Some criticized the idea of freezing coins they do not own. One user commented, “It’s so easy to call for freezing property when the property is not yours.” Others voiced concerns about the complexity and risks of implementing such a change. Another user noted, “Every single thing you mentioned here is extremely complex with colossal risk and externalities.” Due to the backlash, some speculated the post might have been generated by AI.
The potential threat of quantum computers arises from their ability to solve the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) logarithmic problem, used in Bitcoin’s cryptography. This would allow a quantum computer to derive private keys from certain public keys, enabling unauthorized spending of Bitcoin. The earliest Bitcoin transactions, including those linked to Satoshi Nakamoto and Hal Finney, could be targeted because their public keys are exposed.
For more details, see Michael Saylor’s original post and Nic Carter’s commentary. Other reactions can be found on X, including community responses and clarifications about lost coins.
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