Intense Governance Conflict Between Developers, Miners, and Community Over Draft Bitcoin Quantum Resistance Proposal

The Bitcoin ecosystem faces its greatest test yet in the face of threats from quantum computers. The draft proposal cites the vulnerability of the currently used Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECDSA) to quantum computing. It includes a strong provision urging a conversion to quantum-resistant addresses within a specified deadline and permanently freezing funds in wallets that fail to comply.

If this clause is applied, there is a risk that approximately 1 million bitcoins presumed to be owned by Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto, as well as millions of other bitcoins left dormant due to lost private keys, could be subject to freezing or confiscation.

While security experts argue that this is a necessary measure for overall network security to prevent the risk of exposed funds flooding the market, opponents counter that it infringes on users' property rights and undermines the value of decentralization.

Meanwhile, BIP-360, an alternative that excludes the freezing mechanism, is also under discussion. Investor Nick Carter suggested that if Satoshi's bitcoins were hacked due to advancements in quantum computing, the U.S. government might seize them under the guise of protection or incorporate them as strategic assets.