StarkWare Tests First Quantum-Resistant Bitcoin Transaction on Mainnet

StarkWare Conducts First Quantum-Resistant Bitcoin Transaction

StarkWare, a company specializing in blockchain technology, has successfully tested the first quantum-resistant Bitcoin transaction on the Bitcoin mainnet. This experimental transaction was confirmed in Bitcoin block 964,199 and involved spending 10,000 satoshis (a small unit of Bitcoin) using a new method designed to protect against potential threats from quantum computers.

The transaction was submitted directly to MARA Pool, a Bitcoin mining service, using its Slipstream service. This method was necessary because the transaction type is not yet recognized as standard by Bitcoin’s default network rules.

How the Quantum-Resistant Method Works

The quantum-resistant transaction uses a scheme called Quantum Safe Bitcoin (QSB), developed by StarkWare researcher Avihu Levy. QSB combines hash-based one-time signatures with computational searches to bind an authorization to a specific transaction. This approach aims to prevent forgery even if a quantum computer breaks the elliptic-curve cryptography currently used by Bitcoin.

The test demonstrates that Bitcoin’s existing rules can support quantum-resistant spending without requiring a protocol change, though the method is currently expensive and time-consuming.

Key Details of the Test

• The transaction was confirmed on August 27, 2026, in Bitcoin block 964,199.
• It spent 10,000 satoshis using the QSB scheme.
• The process required hours of computation and cost between $150 and $200.
• The transaction was submitted directly to MARA Pool’s Slipstream service because it is not yet recognized as standard by Bitcoin nodes.
• QSB is designed as a temporary safety measure while protocol-level protections are developed.

Why Quantum Resistance Matters for Bitcoin

Quantum computers could theoretically break the cryptographic methods that secure Bitcoin transactions. In March 2026, Google researchers estimated that a sufficiently powerful quantum computer could derive a Bitcoin private key (a secret code that controls Bitcoin funds) within nine to 12 minutes after its public key becomes visible. This could allow an attacker to replace a pending transaction before it is confirmed on the blockchain.

Levy’s QSB method is not intended to replace protocol-level upgrades but serves as a potential safeguard until broader network changes are implemented. Bitcoin developers are already considering proposals like BIP-360, which would introduce a new output type to enhance quantum resistance.

What Is Confirmed

• StarkWare successfully tested a quantum-resistant Bitcoin transaction on the mainnet.
• The transaction was confirmed in block 964,199 and spent 10,000 satoshis.
• The QSB method uses hash-based one-time signatures to protect against quantum computer threats.
• The process is currently expensive, costing between $150 and $200, and requires direct submission to miners.

What Remains Unclear

• Whether the QSB method will be adopted widely or remain an experimental solution.
• How long it will take for protocol-level quantum-resistant upgrades to be implemented.
• The exact timeline for when quantum computers might pose a real threat to Bitcoin’s security.

Why This Test Is Significant

This test shows that Bitcoin can adapt to potential future threats without requiring an immediate network upgrade. While the QSB method is not yet practical for everyday use due to its high cost and complexity, it provides a proof of concept for quantum-resistant transactions. This could help guide future developments in Bitcoin’s security as quantum computing advances.

Sources

• Cointelegraph