A new project called Quip is bringing post-quantum security to Bitcoin by leveraging the WOTS+ (Winternitz One-Time Signature) scheme. Unlike the elliptic curve cryptography currently used on Bitcoin, WOTS+ has undergone extensive cryptanalysis and is hardened against attacks from quantum computers. Quip runs on the Arch Network, a Layer 2 infrastructure that lets developers build smart contracts directly tethered to Bitcoin's base layer — without requiring changes to the core protocol.
How WOTS+ Works and the Layer 2 Trade-off
WOTS+ is a one-time signature based on hash functions, which are believed to be quantum-resistant. Quip uses the Arch Network as a sidechain to process complex computations and then anchor results back to Bitcoin. This Layer 2 approach has gained traction for scaling Bitcoin, but applying it to quantum security is a first. However, the Quip wallet won't be available until next week — third-party security audits are still in progress. Similar technology already runs on Ethereum and Solana, but Quip's Bitcoin adaptation and the Arch Network platform remain early-stage.
Competing Proposals in the Bitcoin Community
The threat of quantum computing has sparked multiple proposals within the Bitcoin ecosystem. Just two weeks ago, developer Jameson Lopp and others proposed BIP-361, which would phase out quantum-vulnerable addresses over five years and freeze wallets that refuse to migrate. That could affect roughly 1.1 million BTC — believed to belong to Satoshi Nakamoto. Another controversial idea comes from Paul Sztorc, who backs an eCash hard fork that duplicates the Bitcoin blockchain and creates seven sidechains, one of which would be fully quantum-resistant, with some assets redistributed.
Layer 2 vs. Mainnet Overhaul: The Debate Continues
Proponents of Quip argue that it delivers immediate quantum protection without a soft fork or network-wide consensus. Colton Dillion, CEO of Postquant Labs, said the Bitcoin community has long delayed addressing the quantum issue, while Quip can provide equivalent protection without any network upgrade. Dr. Richard Carback, technical lead at the same firm, added that their solution narrows the quantum attack window to roughly 20 minutes, or two Bitcoin blocks.
Critics are not convinced. Jameson Lopp questions whether Layer 2 solutions like Quip are sufficient, noting that mainnet transactions still expose public keys that could be cracked by future quantum computers. Sztorc argues that incremental upgrades are inadequate and favors built-in quantum security from day one. The last major Bitcoin soft fork, Taproot, was activated in 2021, and experts say implementing a new upgrade could take years. Which approach ultimately wins will largely depend on how fast quantum computers develop. For now, most Bitcoin investors appear to rely on conventional mainnet security methods to hedge against these risks.