BTQ has launched a quantum-resistant Bitcoin testnet - ForkLog: cryptocurrencies, AI, singularity, the future

Froklog · 2026-01-12T14:58:32+00:00

BTQ Technologies launched Bitcoin Quantum, a quantum-resistant Bitcoin testnet, on January 12. With a focus on security against quantum threats, the project replaces ECDSA with ML-DSA for digital signatures and invites community participation in testing.

Froklog

2026-01-12 14:58:32

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# BTQ Launches Quantum-Resistant Bitcoin Testnet

BTQ Technologies announced the launch of the Bitcoin Quantum testnet — the first Bitcoin fork resistant to quantum computing threats.

The deployment took place on January 12, on the 17th anniversary of the first BTC transaction.

According to the press release, the main goal of the project is to test the resilience of digital gold against future threats from quantum computing.

Technical Features

Bitcoin Quantum is based on replacing the standard Bitcoin digital signature algorithm ECDSA with ML-DSA (approved by NIST as secure for the post-quantum era).

Key protocol changes:

Integration of ML-DSA (FIPS 204) provides 128-bit post-quantum protection;
Block size limit raised to 64 MB;
Launch of block explorer and mining pool.

Threat to “Old” Coins

According to BTQ, approximately 6.26 million BTC (~$650-750 billion) are at risk of hacking. The coins are stored at addresses with public keys exposed. This category includes Satoshi Nakamoto’s wallets, containing between 600,000 and 1.1 million BTC.

In the current version of the Bitcoin protocol, such addresses are vulnerable to Shor’s algorithm, which could theoretically allow a powerful quantum computer to find the private key.

Research firm Delphi Digital in its December 2025 report called Bitcoin Quantum a “quantum Canary” — a testing ground for protective solutions before the threat becomes real for the main network.

Institutional and Government Context

The relevance of the issue is confirmed by actions of regulators and major players:

US government standards: NSA and the US Department of Defense have mandated agencies to switch to post-quantum algorithms by 2030-2035;
Financial sector: BlackRock and VanEck have included quantum risks in their SEC reports.

Earlier, Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin estimated the probability of developing computers capable of breaking modern cryptography by 2030 at 20%.

Company Strategy and Community Involvement

The Bitcoin Quantum network is fully open. Developers invite miners, researchers, and users to participate in testing: running nodes, searching for vulnerabilities, and verifying transactions.

BTQ Technologies plans to hold the fork tokens as a strategic asset. The company intends to accumulate about 100,000 coins in the first year through its mining pool (with a 3% fee).

Currently, initiatives to implement post-quantum protection into the original Bitcoin Core (for example, BIP 360) are in early discussion stages. According to the press release, Bitcoin Quantum offers a ready solution for testing the concept in real-world conditions.

Recall that in December, Blockstream CEO Adam Back criticized partner Castle Island Ventures’ Nick Carter for exaggerating concerns about the threat of quantum computers to Bitcoin.

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