StarkWare Researcher Demonstrates Quantum-Resistant Bitcoin Transaction

Insider Brief

• A quantum-resistant Bitcoin transaction has been completed on the Bitcoin mainnet using a method developed by StarkWare researcher Avihu Levy.
• The method uses signature grinding to limit exposure of public-key material while transactions wait in Bitcoin’s mempool, adding a quantum-resistant layer without changing Bitcoin’s existing cryptography.
• The transaction required direct submission to MARA’s Slipstream service because Bitcoin nodes do not currently relay its non-standard format, while Levy continues to support a protocol-level upgrade through a soft fork.

The first quantum-resistant Bitcoin transaction has been successfully executed. 

A first-of-a-kind transaction on Bitcoin mainnet made funds that had been vulnerable to quantum attack now secure in the case of quantum attack. This challenges the long-held belief that only a fork can protect Bitcoin holdings against quantum.

The breakthrough comes amid rising concerns about quantum computing, especially in relation to Bitcoin. The method was devised by Avihu Levy, employee number one at StarkWare, and today head of the company’s applications division. Levy revealed his method earlier this year in a theoretical post– and now has put it to the test and proved that it actually works. He also just revealed that the breakthrough moment in his thinking happened in the shower (see below).