Coinbase Releases Bitcoin Post-Quantum Upgrade Recommendations: Calls for Early Planning of a Multi-Year Migration Path

PANews October 13 news: Coinbase has published a technical discussion article on Bitcoin post-quantum readiness, stating that Bitcoin will need to address the cryptographic risks that quantum computing may bring in the future, and recommending that the community begin migration preparations as early as possible.

Coinbase believes that Bitcoin's quantum-resistant upgrade involves not only selecting new quantum-resistant signature algorithms, but also comprehensively considering block space limits, full-node verification capabilities, institutional custody needs, ordinary wallet compatibility, and solutions for funds that cannot be migrated. Bitcoin should consider introducing output structures that support quantum-resistant signatures, and explore hybrid approaches, such as allowing the same funds to have both traditional ECDSA/Schnorr signatures and quantum-resistant signatures as two authorization paths, in order to achieve a smooth transition.

In addition, Coinbase emphasizes that quantum-resistant migration will take many years, and the community should complete preparations before the quantum computing threat truly emerges. For BTC funds that have not been migrated for a long time, whose private keys have been lost, or whose public keys have already been exposed, Coinbase believes that solutions still need to be found through governance and technical discussion.