Blockstream CEO Adam Back stated on Thursday that Bitcoin's future post-quantum migration is expected to clarify the Bitcoin holdings associated with Satoshi Nakamoto, as any owner wishing to protect their assets will need to migrate their funds to a new address format.
During his speech at Paris Blockchain Week, Back noted that this migration will provide users ample time to transfer their funds and believes that coins not migrated after this process can reasonably be considered lost.
Adam Back delivering a keynote speech at Paris Blockchain Week 2026. Source: Cointelegraph
Back believes breakthroughs in quantum technology still have a long way to go.
He stated that Bitcoin developers and holders have quite a bit of time to prepare, estimating that quantum breakthroughs capable of threatening Bitcoin signatures are at least 20 years away.
He pointed out that today’s quantum computers are “weaker than a $5 calculator,” and as these systems scale, certain issues become increasingly apparent, such as their energy consumption problems.
Back believes this period should provide developers and users with ample opportunity to develop a post-quantum solution and migrate to a new quantum-resistant standard based on hash signatures.
Bitcoin's hash signature scheme, research paper. Source: Blockstream Research
The Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) uses elliptic curve cryptography to verify the authenticity and integrity of information. Schnorr signatures are a praised signing scheme for their ability to combine multiple signatures into one, enhancing privacy and reducing data size.