Is Crypto Ready for Quantum Threats?

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#1Sep 3, 2017, 06:11 AM
Lately, I've been hearing a lot about how quantum computers might be a serious threat to Bitcoin and other cryptos. But then again, some coins are claiming to be "quantum safe." It's a bit confusing, right? I get that quantum computers are still in development, but I'm curious what does it mean for a crypto to be quantum safe? And can Bitcoin be updated to meet this challenge?
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#2Sep 5, 2017, 09:19 AM
Your BTC is pretty safe from quantum threats as long as you don’t keep reusing the same address. If your public key is out there, then yeah, that's where the risk lies. Just don’t reuse, and you’re good. And yeah, there are already proposals out there to tackle this.
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#3Sep 5, 2017, 10:54 AM
But do they explain how that safety works? It sounds too good to be true sometimes. I mean, ‘quantum safe’ is almost becoming a buzzword. Like, everyone’s just throwing it around without real substance. I thought this whole quantum resistance talk had been going on forever...
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#4Sep 5, 2017, 03:15 PM
From what I hear, the key is not to use the same address for your Bitcoin. If you’re really worried, just move your BTC to a new address. The devs are definitely aware of this situation and are likely considering upgrades. Currently, SHA-256 is the standard, but who knows what the future holds?
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mike23Member
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#5Sep 5, 2017, 05:50 PM
I did a little digging into which coins claim to be quantum resistant. Found some info here: [link]. From what I understand, Bitcoin could be upgraded, but that requires agreement from everyone involved devs, miners, node operators... It’s not exactly a walk in the park.
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lonealphaNewbie
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#6Sep 5, 2017, 07:11 PM
Yeah but honestly, most of these ‘quantum safe’ projects seem kinda sketchy. Maybe it’s just a marketing gimmick. As for Bitcoin, it’s not in immediate danger since actual quantum computing that can crack public keys isn’t a reality yet. A fork could make it quantum safe, though.
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gmfrensMember
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#7Sep 6, 2017, 12:58 AM
Sure, quantum computers are a threat to complex math problems, but we haven’t seen any real-world impacts yet. I think we’re still in the early stages of quantum tech. If it becomes viable, it could affect all cryptos, but how exactly is still a big question.
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0xApeNewbie
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#8Sep 6, 2017, 02:06 AM
Let’s break it down. 1. Bitcoin's network protocols are super solid and work to keep it secure. 2. Not sure if anyone thinks quantum is a serious threat yet, but the nodes aren’t easy to compromise unless there’s a serious flaw in the blockchain.
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topbl4stFull Member
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#9Sep 6, 2017, 07:32 AM
But really, how many BTC do you have to be this worried? Let the big holders stress about it. If those with hundreds of BTC aren't panicking, why should you?
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bull2020Full Member
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#10Sep 6, 2017, 01:36 PM
I mean, we’ve heard of advances by big names like Google and IBM, but it’s mostly talk with no real breakthroughs yet. Right now, quantum tech is still kinda basic. OP should focus on getting more Bitcoin instead of stressing over what he can’t control.
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C0ldT0kenHero Member
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#11Sep 6, 2017, 02:29 PM
I think the quantum threat is still pretty theoretical. Moving funds to a new address helps keep your public key off the blockchain until you spend from it. That said, even new addresses aren’t completely safe from a powerful quantum algorithm.
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tomnovaNewbie
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#12Sep 6, 2017, 06:34 PM
Quantum computing is more hypothetical than real at this point. If they get it together, though, I bet P2PK addresses will be the first to go. As long as you keep your public key hidden, you should be fine for now.
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#13Sep 6, 2017, 09:48 PM
So, if quantum computers can't crack private keys yet, that means Bitcoin could be made quantum resistant through a fork, right? But big changes will need a lot of consensus.
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chain2011Senior Member
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#14Sep 8, 2017, 11:00 AM
Don’t forget, some regulations might come in to prevent quantum computers from becoming a real threat to Bitcoin. Governments are already interested in Bitcoin as an asset.
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Ba5edGuruFull Member
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#15Sep 8, 2017, 04:04 PM
I guess you could say that exposing your public key is the real problem. As long as you don’t move your funds, you’re not in immediate danger. Exposing it happens when you actually spend from the wallet.
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#16Sep 8, 2017, 08:41 PM
We really need to move to post-quantum algorithms, and that’ll take agreement from developers. There are algorithms designed to withstand quantum attacks, and standards for them are being developed.
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mr_apeNewbie
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#17Sep 8, 2017, 11:47 PM
Nothing lasts forever in cryptography. We've had secure algorithms for ages, but they do eventually get replaced. Bitcoin’s security isn’t in jeopardy for now.
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W1ldLordSenior Member
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#18Sep 10, 2017, 03:58 PM
Wait, so signature campaign earners should change addresses weekly to avoid exposure? That sounds extreme, and the public key isn’t the same as the wallet itself.
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#19Sep 10, 2017, 07:02 PM
If quantum computing becomes a real threat, then yeah, Bitcoin will have to adapt. But honestly, until then, maybe just stick to using new addresses.
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roguebossNewbie
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#20Sep 11, 2017, 07:26 AM
You guys are stressing over something that’s not even here yet. Rumors about quantum tech are everywhere, but Bitcoin and Ethereum are ready for upgrades if needed. It won’t take long to fix things if they need to.
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