StarkWare QSB: Against the Quantum Threat to Bitcoin
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Contents
Far more computing power is required for QSB. Source: GitHub
StarkWare's Quantum Safe Bitcoin (QSB) Proposal
StarkWare head of product Avihu Levy proposed the Quantum Safe Bitcoin (QSB) scheme to make Bitcoin transactions quantum-safe. The proposal published on Thursday is secure against large-scale quantum computers running Shor's algorithm, does not require changes to the Bitcoin protocol or a soft fork, and operates within existing script restrictions. Its main feature is using a hash-to-sig puzzle instead of proof-of-work based ECDSA signatures; it prevents quantum computers from breaking elliptic curve math via brute-force. This adds a security layer while preserving the existing infrastructure, as we examined on our BTC detailed analysis page.
QSB's Technical Structure and Quantum Resistance
QSB creates a hash-based signature puzzle on the sender side. The recipient spends the funds by solving this puzzle; for quantum attackers, it requires enormous computing power instead of breaking elliptic curves. Google's March 2026 article highlighted the quantum risk, while Lightning Labs took similar steps with their quantum escape hatch prototype. QSB balances Shor's polynomial speed with the exponential resistance of hash functions.
QSB Costs and Suitable Use Cases
Per-sender transaction cost is high at 75-150 dollars with GPU power; not practical for daily transactions, ideal for large BTC transfers. StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson says "It makes Bitcoin quantum-safe today," while Bitcoin ESG expert Daniel Batten found it exaggerated, noting it doesn't cover 1.7 million BTC in early P2PK addresses. The community is divided on the quantum threat; the proposal is a temporary solution.
BTC Market Status: ETF Flows and Technical Analysis
On April 22, 2026, Bitcoin ETFs saw 335.8 million dollars net inflow, ETH ETFs followed with 96.4 million dollars. BTC price 77,781.60 USD (+0.27%), RSI 63.61 (neutral), uptrend continues. Supports: 74,400 USD (strong, -4.28%). Resistances: 78,976 USD (+1.61%). For BTC futures, quantum-safe coins like SAFE are attracting interest. Protocol changes are preferred long-term.