Bitcoin developers are taking steps to protect the cryptocurrency from potential future attacks using quantum computers. A proposal has been put forward to freeze coins stored in quantum-vulnerable addresses, which would require holders to migrate their coins to new, quantum-resistant addresses or risk having them frozen permanently by the network.
The plan is designed to prevent a potentially catastrophic breach of the Bitcoin blockchain, but it has sparked controversy among some members of the community. Some argue that freezing coins goes against the core principles of Bitcoin, which emphasizes sovereign control and permissionless transactions.
The proposal, known as BIP-361, would implement a three-phase plan to phase out vulnerable address types over several years. In the first phase, new bitcoin transactions would be blocked from going to old-style addresses. In the second phase, attempts to spend from these addresses would be rejected by the network. Finally, in the third phase, holders with frozen wallets could potentially prove ownership using a zero-knowledge proof.