StarkWare cuts quantum-safe Bitcoin transaction costs
6.6 Tech StarkWare cut the cost of quantum-resistant Bitcoin transactions from $320 to $66 using AI, achieving a 79% reduction. The method works within current Bitcoin rules but needs miner coordination and isn't yet proven on mainnet.
StarkWare has announced a major reduction in the estimated computing cost for preparing quantum-resistant Bitcoin transactions. The cost dropped from about $320 to $66 after a week of AI-assisted programming and a public code optimization contest. These improvements, achieved through enhanced search efficiency and AI tools, resulted in a nearly sixfold increase in processing speed and a 79% cost reduction. The method, called Quantum-Safe Bitcoin (QSB), uses hash-based cryptography to enable eligible bitcoin to be moved under existing network rules, without requiring a protocol upgrade or contentious fork. The $66 estimate is based on benchmark tests and has not yet been demonstrated in a mined transaction. QSB is designed as a precaution against future quantum computing threats, offering a stopgap for high-value assets if quantum computers threaten Bitcoin's cryptography before a network-wide fix. However, it requires direct miner coordination and cannot protect coins with already exposed public keys.
