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$BTC Post-Quantum Migration Needs 5-10 Years, Casa Co-Founder Says

Migrating $BTC to post-quantum standards will require at least five to 10 years, according to Bitcoin core #developer and Casa co-founder Jameson Lopp, who emphasized the protocol's decentralized #consensus model creates unique upgrade challenges. The extended timeline reflects a collective action problem inherent to Bitcoin's distributed software protocol, unlike centralized companies that can implement changes more rapidly.

Lopp agreed with Blockstream CEO Adam Back that quantum computers pose no near-term threat to #Bitcoin security, stating in an X post that quantum computers will not break Bitcoin in the immediate future. However, making thoughtful protocol changes and executing an unprecedented migration of funds could easily consume five to 10 years, according to the developer's assessment.

The Bitcoin protocol faces more complex challenges when upgrading to post-quantum standards compared to centralized software because of its distributed consensus model. Lopp emphasized in a separate post that Bitcoin is a #decentralized software protocol with a collective action problem, distinguishing it from centralized companies that can push updates unilaterally.

The debate over quantum threats and potential solutions has created a division within the Bitcoin community between Bitcoin maximalists who urge caution in prompting protocol changes and venture capitalists who argue the quantum threat is imminent. Bitcoin maximalist Pierre Rochard stated that quantum-resistant solutions are affordable enough for nonprofits and VCs to finance.

Rochard added that attacking Bitcoin through #quantum computers would be so expensive that governments would be forced to subsidize it as a collective action problem.