Ledger CTO: Quantum Computer Unlikely to Break Bitcoin In Near Term
Charles Guillemet, CTO of Ledger, stated that a quantum computer is unlikely to break Bitcoin's current cryptography but stressed that the quantum threat shouldn't be ignored. He advocated for proactively upgrading Bitcoin's protocol to ensure quantum resistance, which would involve defining a migration path, including handling presumed lost coins like Satoshi Nakamoto's stash. Guillemet warned of trade-offs in such migration and noted the unproven nature of lattice-based cryptography and potential incompatibilities with Bitcoin's existing BIP32 structure.
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Quantum Computing vs Bitcoin Cryptography
Charles Guillemet, chief technology officer at hardware wallet giant Ledger, has opined that a quantum computer is unlikely to break Bitcoin's current cryptography. However, Guillemet also believes that such a black swan event is not entirely impossible, urging the need to address the quantum threat.
Proposed Solution for Quantum Resistance
To mitigate potential risks, Guillemet advocates for proactively upgrading the current Bitcoin protocol to ensure it becomes quantum-resistant. He emphasizes the importance of defining a "migration path," which would even include Bitcoin presumed to be lost, such as Satoshi Nakamoto's enormous 1.1 million BTC stash. This forward-thinking approach, however, comes with notable trade-offs.
Challenges with Lattice-Based Cryptography
Guillemet has highlighted concerns over lattice-based cryptography, which is considered the leading candidate for quantum-resistant encryption. He remarked: "Lattice-based post-quantum cryptography hasn’t yet stood the test of time, and hash-based schemes feel archaic." This underscores the uncertainty surrounding the practicality and reliability of these emerging cryptographic solutions.
Compatibility Issues with Existing Structures
Furthermore, Guillemet has pointed out that quantum-resistant schemes might not integrate properly with the existing BIP32 structure, which is widely used in Bitcoin's protocol. This poses an additional layer of complexity to the transition, underscoring the challenges in achieving true quantum resistance while maintaining compatibility with the current ecosystem.