Bitcoin developer proposes ‘landmines’ to counter quantum theft

Bitcoin Core developer Cory Fields has proposed a system called “quantum landmines” that could make future attackers risk losing their own Bitcoin when attempting to steal funds from wallets vulnerable to quantum computers. Summary Bitcoin Core developer Cory Fields has proposed “quantum landmines” to discourage future theft from vulnerable wallets. The proposal would require anyone spending vulnerable Bitcoin to provide collateral equal to the coins’ value. Original owners could recover stolen BTC and claim attackers’ collateral by revealing previously prepared ownership proofs. Fields outlined auction mechanisms for vulnerable coins whose original owners may have permanently lost their keys. The ideas remain hypothetical and would require quantum-safe Bitcoin outputs and new network consensus rules. In a November 4 proposal published on the Bitcoin Development Mailing List, Fields outlined a mechanism requiring anyone moving vulnerable BTC to provide matching collateral from a quantum-safe wallet. The system would give original owners an opportunity to recover their coins and claim the attacker’s collateral if they had prepared proof of ownership beforehand. Fields, who works wit...