A new research proposal by StarkWare researcher Avihu Levy claims that Bitcoin transactions can resist quantum attacks without any protocol changes. The Quantum Safe Bitcoin (QSB) scheme replaces elliptic curve security with hash-based puzzles, specifically a 'hash-to-signature' mechanism that defeats Shor's algorithm. The paper estimates a success probability of 1 in ~70.4 trillion attempts per puzzle. Each transaction costs $75-$150 to generate using cloud GPUs, but the oversized scripts exceed relay policy limits, requiring direct miner submission. This article explains the three-stage transaction process, security assumptions, current limitations, and why this approach could influence future quantum safety debates in Bitcoin.

StarkWare researcher Avihu Levy has proposed QSB (Quantum Safe Bitcoin), a scheme that uses a 'hash-to-signature' puzzle to shift security from elliptic curves to hash pre-image resistance, enabling quantum-resistant Bitcoin transactions without modifying consensus rules. The scheme hashes a transaction-derived public key with RIPEMD-160 and treats the output as a candidate ECDSA signature, with success probability of roughly 1 in 70.4 trillion attempts. It offers about 118 bits of second pre-image resistance. Transaction generation costs are estimated at $75-$150 using cloud GPUs, but transactions exceed relay policy limits and require direct submission to miners via services like Slipstream. The proposal is not yet fully demonstrated on-chain but presents a fork-free path for Bitcoin's long-term security.

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