Scientists say at least 76 days needed for Bitcoin to switch to quantum-safe addresses

Researchers from the University of Kent found that a full migration of Bitcoin to post-quantum addresses could take at least 76 days if the entire network dedicated itself solely to that task. However, they emphasize that real-world conditions are more complex: users cannot freeze all other transactions, so the actual timeline might stretch into years.

The findings suggest a large-scale awareness campaign and wallet upgrades supporting new protocols will be necessary. Should quantum machines acquire the power to break elliptic curve cryptography sooner, as much as 37% of Bitcoin’s supply may be at risk.

Experts urge major holders to plan ahead for updates. Addresses with large unspent outputs are especially vulnerable to “long-range” attacks. The general consensus is that discussions on quantum security should not be postponed.