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Researchers are pursuing three ways to address Bitcoin’s hypothetical quantum threat: cheaper quantum-resistant transactions, a possible protocol upgrade and custody-layer protections. No quantum computer can currently attack Bitcoin, and none of this week’s developments makes the network quantum-safe on its own.
An open competition led by StarkWare, Yukon Research and Eigen Labs lowered the estimated cost of a quantum-safe Bitcoin transaction from about $320 to roughly $67, with AI models ranking highest on the leaderboards, Decrypt reported.
Altcoins posted broad gains as bitcoin consolidated near $84,000. Quant jumped 39% in 24 hours, while 93 of 100 CoinDesk 100 constituents rose and the altcoin season index reached its highest level in more than three months.
Researchers outlined a potential Bitcoin privacy system using zero-knowledge proofs and encrypted notes, aiming to enable shielded transfers without a soft fork. The proposal still faces questions over anonymity and resistance to quantum threats.
The EU says a quantum-computing security threat could arrive before the technology is commercially useful. Member states have until the end of 2026 to prepare plans addressing the potential risk.
EU financial watchdogs say quantum computing poses an imminent threat to blockchain encryption. CoinDesk reports the warning has revived debate over how Bitcoin should handle legacy addresses with public keys already exposed onchain.
StarkWare says AI-assisted coding cut the estimated cost of a quantum-safe Bitcoin transaction from $320 to $66 after a week of work. The figure has not yet been verified in another transaction mined on Bitcoin.
StarkWare says a weeklong optimization challenge lowered the estimated GPU cost of preparing an experimental quantum-resistant Bitcoin transaction by 79%, bringing the projected expense below $67.
Bitcoin Magazine’s Shinobi examines why a viable quantum computer could potentially be built in the near future, highlighting uncertainty around technological progress in an article from the publication’s “The Quantum Issue” series.
Bitcoin Magazine examines how a potential quantum-computing attack could affect Bitcoin on-chain, moving beyond theory to consider what an attack might look like in practice. The analysis was written by Patrick Green and features Shinobi.
EU supervisors warn that quantum computing could weaken blockchain security. Bitcoin developers are weighing a draft migration plan, while Ethereum is targeting 2029 to address the potential threat.
Coinbase is building adaptable Bitcoin custody infrastructure that can support whichever post-quantum signing scheme Bitcoin eventually adopts, Decrypt reports. Cryptography chief Yehuda Lindell described the approach as part of the exchange’s $250 billion custody strategy.
VanEck’s Matthew Sigel said the Bitcoin community recognizes the potential risk from quantum computing and is working on solutions. Bitcoin Magazine reported the comments on September 18, 2026.
Bitcoin Magazine’s Quantum Issue features Jameson Lopp’s essay on whether Bitcoin should freeze coins vulnerable to quantum computing, highlighting the contentious social and governance decisions such an intervention could create.
Bitcoin short-term holders have stayed in partial profit for nearly 30 days, with CryptoQuant analysis pointing to improving odds of a lasting bullish BTC reversal, Cointelegraph reported.
MIT professor and Optimum co-founder Muriel Médard says blockchains can be made quantum-safe with established mathematics, without requiring access to quantum computers. Her analysis was published by CoinDesk.
