Bitcoin Core Developers Propose Collateral Defense Mechanism Against Quantum Attacks

On November 7, according to BeInCrypto, Bitcoin core developer Cory Fields proposed a "quantum landmine" scheme, aiming to increase the cost for future quantum attackers to steal bitcoins from older wallets through a collateral mechanism.

Under the proposal, transferring bitcoin vulnerable to quantum attacks requires providing additional collateral and undergoing a waiting period. Legitimate holders can present pre-prepared secret proofs of ownership within the period to reclaim their assets and obtain the attacker's collateral.

The report notes that because the blockchain cannot distinguish between attackers and legitimate holders, the latter must also provide collateral when transferring such bitcoin; for dormant assets with lost private keys, Fields also proposed a challengeable auction mechanism. The scheme remains a proposal and is not an implemented network rule.