Bitcoin developer Hunter Beast has introduced the 'Hourglass' quantum soft fork proposal, aiming to protect legacy Bitcoin from potential quantum computing threats.
Goals of the 'Hourglass' Proposal
The 'Hourglass' proposal will utilize post-quantum cryptographic primitives to safeguard legacy Bitcoin, including Satoshi's untouched coins. It aims to enhance Bitcoin's resilience against quantum threats, with community input influencing its final design.
Community Discussion
The proposal is currently under review on technical mailing lists, indicating its openness to discussions. The grassroots nature emphasizes collaboration among unaffiliated contributors and carefully addresses potential impacts on ordinals and NFT-related Bitcoin tokens to avoid economic changes.
Lessons from Past Bitcoin Upgrades
This proposal follows precedents set by past Bitcoin upgrades such as SegWit and Taproot, which also had a community-driven approach. Discussions about quantum resistance date back to comments made by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2010. If implemented, the soft fork could protect dormant coins whose public keys remain undisclosed.
Hunter Beast's proposal for the 'Hourglass' quantum soft fork aims to safeguard Bitcoin against potential quantum threats while emphasizing the importance of community feedback and avoiding negative impacts on Bitcoin's economy.
