'It Can Take Years': Coinbase Presses for Bitcoin Quantum Migration to Start Now
Coinbase urged Bitcoin developers to begin planning for quantum-resistant security now, warning that consensus changes and wallet migrations could take years. It outlined requirements including protecting old and new coins, limiting block-space costs, supporting common wallets and institutional custody, and providing a path for dormant or exposed coins. Coinbase favors a flexible design, such as BIP-360, that can accommodate changing post-quantum signatures, and suggested temporarily allowing either classical or quantum-safe keys to spend funds. It also said any approach must support custodians’ multi-party computation systems and ensure rescue mechanisms cannot be exploited. Coinbase has formed a quantum advisory board and joined a consortium that pledged $15 million toward Bitcoin’s security work.
