Lightning Labs CTO Olaoluwa Osuntokun announced the creation of a prototype tool designed to protect Bitcoin wallets from quantum computer attacks.
The CTO explained that the Bitcoin network uses encryption algorithms that are theoretically vulnerable to quantum computers, and in the event of such an attack, attackers could use public blockchain data to recover private keys and access bitcoins. Currently, a phased transition to new standards is proposed as the primary security measure. Specifically, the BIP-360 initiative envisions the introduction of quantum-resistant wallets to which bitcoin owners can transfer their assets in advance.
However, Olaoluwa Osuntokun fears the migration process will inevitably take a long time: some BTC holders won’t have time to update, and some funds will inevitably remain in old addresses with lost access. This is why, according to the developer, a “crash” option is being considered, which would disable the network’s signature system to prevent mass theft.
He noted that such a move carries serious risks: most modern addresses rely on the current signature model. If it is disabled, real owners will temporarily lose the ability to verify ownership of their funds.
As an alternative solution, Osuntokun presented a mechanism that, he says, avoids negative consequences for users who haven’t yet adopted the new standards. The system is based on zk-STARK technology (a protocol that doesn’t require disclosure to third parties) and replaces the traditional digital signature: the owner confirms the wallet’s creation using a secret seed phrase , without disclosing it.
A top manager at Lightning Labs believes this approach improves security: compromising one address doesn’t pose a risk to others using the same seed phrase. The CTO confirmed that the prototype has already been tested. On a MacBook, he said, generating a proof of asset ownership takes about 55 seconds, and verifying it takes less than two seconds. The proof file size is approximately 1.7 MB.
Osuntokun acknowledged that the solution is experimental: it was created as a side project and has not yet been formalized as a proposal for integration into the Bitcoin network.
Google analysts previously stated that a successful quantum attack on the Bitcoin network and theft of assets may require significantly less computing power than previously thought.
