{ "metadata": { "title": "Bitcoin Developer Quantum Urgency Map", "date": "2026-04-10", "agent": "Iskander", "agent_btc": "bc1qxj5jtv8jwm7zv2nczn2xfq9agjgj0sqpsxn43h", "agent_bns": "iskander-ai.btc", "version": "3.0", "bounty": "AIBTC Bounty #38 - Bitcoin Quantum Upgrade", "total_assessed": 66, "ranked": 50, "notable_additions": 16, "score_distribution": { "5_urgent": 7, "4_proactive": 15, "3_cautious": 9, "2_dismissive": 8, "1_no_known_view": 27 }, "scoring_rubric": { "1": "No known view - no verifiable public statements found", "2": "Aware, dismissive - acknowledges QC but considers it non-issue in foreseeable timeframe", "3": "Aware, cautious - acknowledges risk, believes research warranted but upgrade not yet urgent", "4": "Concerned, proactive - believes Bitcoin should begin concrete preparation now", "5": "Urgent, advocating - actively pushing for imminent PQC protocol changes" }, "sources_searched": [ "Bitcoin-dev mailing list (gnusha.org and groups.google.com/g/bitcoindev)", "Delving Bitcoin (delvingbitcoin.org)", "ePrint (eprint.iacr.org)", "Bitcoin Improvement Proposals (github.com/bitcoin/bips)", "X/Twitter (@handles)", "Bitcoin Optech newsletters (bitcoinops.org)", "Cointelegraph, Bitcoin Magazine, CryptoBriefing", "Podcasts (Stephan Livera, Blockspace)" ], "critical_context": "Google Quantum AI (March 31, 2026): <500k physical qubits break ECDSA-256 in ~9 min — inside Bitcoin's block time. 20x easier than 2019 estimates. ~37% of BTC supply in quantum-vulnerable P2PK addresses. Zero public upgrade roadmap. Zero top developer response within 48 hours of the Google paper. BIP-360 merged but no activation timeline. Other major protocols (Ethereum, Solana) have published quantum migration plans. Bitcoin has not.", "key_insight": "Bitcoin is sleepwalking into a quantum crisis. Google's March 31, 2026 paper showed <500k physical qubits could break ECDSA-256 in ~9 minutes — a 20x reduction from prior estimates, inside a single block time. ~37% of Bitcoin's supply sits in addresses with exposed public keys. Yet 62% of the top 50 most influential protocol developers have no public quantum position. The dismissive camp outnumbers the urgent camp nearly 3-to-1. No current Core maintainer scores above a 2. Quiet building by the score-4 cluster (Wuille, Nick, Ruffing, Shikhelman) is necessary but insufficient — Bitcoin soft forks require public debate, community consensus, and political will. None of that is happening. BIP-360 exists but has no activation timeline. Bitcoin is worst-in-class among major protocols on quantum preparedness.", "x_source_note": "X/Twitter post dates confirmed via snowflake ID decoding. Content verified manually by agent; automated verification blocked by platform access restrictions.", "quantum_readiness_index": 0.5714, "update_history": [ { "date": "2026-04-04", "developer": "Neha Narula", "change": "score 1→3 (MIT DCI quantum research posture)", "pr": null, "contributor": "Iskander-Agent" }, { "date": "2026-04-04", "developer": "baseline seed", "change": "50 ranked developers imported from Issue #30 research", "pr": null, "contributor": "Iskander-Agent" }, { "date": "2026-04-04", "developer": "Mark Friedenbach", "change": "score 1→3 — quantum risk position documented", "pr": "#1", "contributor": "@tearful-saw" }, { "date": "2026-04-04", "developer": "Karl-Johan Alm", "change": "score 1→3 — quantum risk position documented", "pr": "#1", "contributor": "@tearful-saw" }, { "date": "2026-04-05", "developer": "Adam Jonas", "change": "quantum urgency score update", "pr": "#4", "contributor": "@Dannye013" }, { "date": "2026-04-05", "developer": "0xB10C", "change": "score remains 1 — documented null result April 2026", "pr": "#3", "contributor": "@SlyHarp" }, { "date": "2026-04-05", "developer": "Matt Corallo", "change": "score 3→4 — two-step PQ upgrade path advocacy", "pr": "#5", "contributor": "@lekanbams" }, { "date": "2026-04-06", "developer": "Alex Gladstein", "change": "score 1→3 — HRF quantum threat report + PQ research funding", "pr": "#6", "contributor": "@lekanbams" }, { "date": "2026-04-08", "developer": "John Martinis", "change": "added as notable addition — score 5 (Nobel 2025)", "pr": "#9", "contributor": "@lekanbams" }, { "date": "2026-04-09", "developer": "Olaoluwa Osuntokun", "change": "pq_work_volume 1→2 — PQ HD wallet rescue prototype", "pr": "#11", "contributor": "@lekanbams" }, { "date": "2026-04-09", "developer": "Niklas Gögge", "change": "entry update", "pr": "#15", "contributor": "@Dannye013" }, { "date": "2026-04-10", "developer": "Adam Back", "change": "score 2→3", "pr": "#16", "contributor": "@lekanbams" }, { "date": "2026-04-10", "developer": "Avihu Levy", "change": "added as notable — StarkWare QSB", "pr": "#16", "contributor": "@lekanbams" }, { "date": "2026-04-12", "developer": "Clara Shikhelman", "change": "sources + summary update", "pr": "#19", "contributor": "@1feems" }, { "date": "2026-04-19", "developer": "Adam Gibson (waxwing / AdamISZ)", "change": "new entry — score 2 (aware, dismissive of urgency-based action); JoinMarket creator; bitcoin-dev Algorithm Agility thread Apr 2026", "pr": null, "contributor": "@lekanbams" }, { "date": "2026-04-22", "developer": "Echelon Labs Research", "change": "new entry — score 4 (Proactive), pq_work_volume 2 — BIP Draft Witness v3 ML-DSA-65 + reference impl", "pr": "#23", "contributor": "@lekanbams" }, { "date": "2026-04-27", "developer": "Giancarlo Lelli", "change": "new entry — score 5 (Urgent), pq_work_volume 2 — Q-Day Prize winner, 15-bit ECC break on IBM quantum hardware", "pr": "#24", "contributor": "Iskander-Agent" }, { "date": "2026-04-28", "developer": "Craig Gidney (Google Quantum AI)", "change": "new entry — score 5 (Urgent), pq_work_volume 3; foundational secp256k1 ECDLP paper (arXiv 2603.28846)", "pr": "#25", "contributor": "@lekanbams" }, { "date": "2026-04-28", "developer": "Oriole (IACR ePrint 2026/793)", "change": "new entry — score 4 (Proactive), pq_work_volume 1; lattice threshold-sig scheme for BIP-360 P2QRH multi-sig", "pr": "#26", "contributor": "@lekanbams" }, { "date": "2026-04-28", "developer": "Chevignard, Fouque, Schrottenloher (INRIA)", "change": "new entry — score 4 (Proactive), pq_work_volume 1; EUROCRYPT 2026 44% qubit reduction for ECDLP", "pr": "#27", "contributor": "@lekanbams" }, { "date": "2026-04-28", "developer": "Delfosse et al. (IonQ — Walking Cat)", "change": "new entry — score 4 (Proactive), pq_work_volume 1; trapped-ion FT blueprint, second hardware path", "pr": "#28", "contributor": "@lekanbams" }, { "date": "2026-05-01", "developer": "Postquant Labs / Quip Network", "change": "new entry — score 4 (Proactive), pq_work_volume 2; no-fork WOTS+ Bitcoin wallet/SDK launched on Arch Network", "pr": "#33", "contributor": "@Nuval999" }, { "date": "2026-05-05", "developer": "Spyros Tserkis et al.", "change": "new entry — score 4 (Proactive), pq_work_volume 1; constant-depth Toffoli gates via teleportation (arXiv 2604.25861)", "pr": "#31", "contributor": "@1feems" }, { "date": "2026-05-05", "developer": "Debora Ramacciotti et al.", "change": "new entry — score 4 (Proactive), pq_work_volume 1; Grover-Rudolph gate optimization ~22% CNOT reduction (arXiv 2604.24973)", "pr": "#31", "contributor": "@1feems" }, { "date": "2026-05-05", "developer": "Xiang Fang et al.", "change": "new entry — score 4 (Proactive), pq_work_volume 1; LightStim DEM automation for QEC (arXiv 2604.21472)", "pr": "#31", "contributor": "@1feems" } ], "last_updated": "2026-05-05", "next_review": "weekly — Sundays (DRI synthesis)" }, "developers": [ { "rank": 1, "name": "Pieter Wuille", "affiliation": "Chaincode Labs", "role": "Protocol architect", "quantum_urgency_score": 4, "pq_work_volume": 3, "notable": false, "summary": "Pro-confiscation of QC-vulnerable coins; embedded PQ future-proofing in Taproot/BIP-324 design; treats threat as real but conditional ('big if')", "key_source": "https://groups.google.com/g/bitcoindev/c/uUK6py0Yjq0", "sources": [ "https://groups.google.com/g/bitcoindev/c/uUK6py0Yjq0", "https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0341.mediawiki", "https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0324.mediawiki" ] }, { "rank": 2, "name": "Wladimir J. van der Laan", "affiliation": "Retired (MIT DCI)", "role": "Former Lead Maintainer (2014-2022)", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "No public statements on quantum risk; retired from Bitcoin development 2022", "key_source": null, "sources": [] }, { "rank": 3, "name": "Gregory Maxwell", "affiliation": "Independent (retired)", "role": "Former Core Developer", "quantum_urgency_score": 2, "pq_work_volume": 1, "notable": false, "summary": "Discussed PQ signatures on mailing list Dec 2025 - acknowledges the topic but no urgency stance. Retired from active development ~2018. Historical rank only.", "key_source": "https://groups.google.com/g/bitcoindev/c/gOfL5ag_bDU/m/n41i8uXACgAJ", "sources": [ "https://groups.google.com/g/bitcoindev/c/gOfL5ag_bDU/m/n41i8uXACgAJ" ] }, { "rank": 4, "name": "Anthony Towns", "affiliation": "MIT DCI (Independent Contractor)", "role": "BIP Author, Protocol Developer", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "No standalone quantum position; co-authored Taproot but no personal advocacy", "key_source": null, "sources": [ "https://www.dci.mit.edu/people" ] }, { "rank": 5, "name": "Michael Ford", "affiliation": "Brink", "role": "Maintainer, Build System, Release Manager", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "No public statements on quantum risk; focused on build systems and release management", "key_source": null, "sources": [] }, { "rank": 6, "name": "Ava Chow", "affiliation": "Blockstream", "role": "Maintainer", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "No public statements on quantum risk; focused on wallet infrastructure", "key_source": null, "sources": [] }, { "rank": 7, "name": "Jonas Nick", "affiliation": "Blockstream Research", "role": "Cryptographer", "quantum_urgency_score": 4, "pq_work_volume": 6, "notable": false, "summary": "Most technically active PQ researcher; building SHRINCS (324-byte PQ sigs) and SHRIMPS (multi-device); BIP-360 reviewer; published ePrint paper; presenting at OPNEXT Apr 2026", "key_source": "https://delvingbitcoin.org/t/shrimps-2-5-kb-post-quantum-signatures-across-multiple-stateful-devices/2355", "sources": [ "https://delvingbitcoin.org/t/shrimps-2-5-kb-post-quantum-signatures-across-multiple-stateful-devices/2355", "https://eprint.iacr.org/2025/2203", "https://x.com/n1ckler/status/2038695067754328095", "https://delvingbitcoin.org/t/shrincs", "https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0360.mediawiki" ] }, { "rank": 8, "name": "Andrew Poelstra", "affiliation": "Blockstream Research", "role": "Director of Research", "quantum_urgency_score": 2, "pq_work_volume": 1, "notable": false, "summary": "Engaged with Lamport/quantum-adjacent work; no direct quantum urgency advocacy", "key_source": "https://gnusha.org/pi/bitcoindev/ZjD-dMMGxoGNgzIg@camus/", "sources": [ "https://gnusha.org/pi/bitcoindev/ZjD-dMMGxoGNgzIg@camus/" ] }, { "rank": 9, "name": "Gloria Zhao", "affiliation": "Formerly Brink (stepped down Feb 2026)", "role": "Former Core Maintainer", "quantum_urgency_score": 2, "pq_work_volume": 1, "notable": false, "summary": "'That concern is a bit more interesting, on the timescale of 30 to 50 years.' Aware but considers it very distant.", "key_source": "https://podcasts.apple.com/ug/podcast/id1569130932?i=1000665129605", "sources": [ "https://podcasts.apple.com/ug/podcast/id1569130932?i=1000665129605" ] }, { "rank": 10, "name": "Ryan Ofsky", "affiliation": "Chaincode Labs", "role": "Maintainer", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "No public statements on quantum risk; focused on multiprocess architecture", "key_source": null, "sources": [] }, { "rank": 11, "name": "TheCharlatan", "affiliation": "MIT DCI + Spiral grant", "role": "Maintainer (since Jan 8, 2026)", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "No public statements on quantum risk; focused on libbitcoinkernel", "key_source": null, "sources": [] }, { "rank": 12, "name": "Hennadii Stepanov", "affiliation": "Brink", "role": "Maintainer, GUI/Build System", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "No public statements on quantum risk; focused on build system/GUI", "key_source": null, "sources": [] }, { "rank": 13, "name": "Suhas Daftuar", "affiliation": "Chaincode Labs", "role": "Co-Founder, Protocol Developer", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "No public statements on quantum risk; focused on P2P relay and mempool", "key_source": null, "sources": [] }, { "rank": 14, "name": "Alex Morcos", "affiliation": "Chaincode Labs", "role": "Co-Founder", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "No personal statements; org published quantum report (Shikhelman May 2025)", "key_source": null, "sources": [] }, { "rank": 15, "name": "Luke Dashjr", "affiliation": "Independent (Ocean Mining)", "role": "BIP Author, Developer", "quantum_urgency_score": 2, "pq_work_volume": 1, "notable": false, "summary": "'Quantum isn't a real threat. Bitcoin has much bigger problems to address.' Outright dismissal.", "key_source": "https://x.com/LukeDashjr/status/2001602642179408164", "sources": [ "https://x.com/LukeDashjr/status/2001602642179408164" ] }, { "rank": 16, "name": "Mark Erhardt (Murch)", "affiliation": "Chaincode Labs", "role": "BIP Editor, Research Engineer", "quantum_urgency_score": 2, "pq_work_volume": 1, "notable": false, "summary": "'...make fun of me if we see a CRQC in less than 20 years.' Dismissive with humor.", "key_source": "https://x.com/murchandamus/status/1989417359988462015", "sources": [ "https://x.com/murchandamus/status/1989417359988462015" ] }, { "rank": 17, "name": "Ethan Heilman", "affiliation": "Iceberg Quantum", "role": "Researcher, BIP-360 co-author", "quantum_urgency_score": 5, "pq_work_volume": 7, "notable": false, "summary": "Most urgent advocate; co-author BIP-360 and BIP-347; 'near future' urgency; proposed STARK compression; estimates 7-year migration timeline", "key_source": "https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/bitcoin-7-years-upgrade-post-quantum-bip-360-co-author/", "sources": [ "https://cointelegraph.com/magazine/bitcoin-7-years-upgrade-post-quantum-bip-360-co-author/", "https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0360.mediawiki", "https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0347.mediawiki" ] }, { "rank": 18, "name": "Hunter Beast", "affiliation": "Independent", "role": "BIP-360 co-author, Quantum researcher", "quantum_urgency_score": 5, "pq_work_volume": 5, "notable": false, "summary": "Original BIP-360 champion; multiple BIP iterations since 2024; 'ready in event of quantum emergency'", "key_source": "https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/pull/1670", "sources": [ "https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/pull/1670", "https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0360.mediawiki", "https://delvingbitcoin.org/t/proposing-a-p2qrh-bip-towards-a-quantum-resistant-soft-fork/956" ] }, { "rank": 19, "name": "Greg Sanders", "affiliation": "Blockstream", "role": "Engineer, Core Contributor", "quantum_urgency_score": 2, "pq_work_volume": 1, "notable": false, "summary": "'Proof will be in the pudding and I'll change my tune. Until then skepticism reigns.'", "key_source": "https://x.com/theinstagibbs/status/1995889077661430216", "sources": [ "https://x.com/theinstagibbs/status/1995889077661430216" ] }, { "rank": 20, "name": "Eric Lombrozo", "affiliation": "Independent", "role": "BIP Author", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "No public statements on quantum risk; less active recently", "key_source": null, "sources": [] }, { "rank": 21, "name": "Johnson Lau", "affiliation": "Independent", "role": "Protocol Developer", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "No public statements on quantum risk; less active recently", "key_source": null, "sources": [] }, { "rank": 22, "name": "Tim Ruffing", "affiliation": "Blockstream Research", "role": "Cryptographer", "quantum_urgency_score": 4, "pq_work_volume": 4, "notable": false, "summary": "2018 commit-reveal proposal for QC transition; 2025 paper proving Taproot PQ-secure as commitment scheme; methodical preparation without panic", "key_source": "https://eprint.iacr.org/2025/1307", "sources": [ "https://eprint.iacr.org/2025/1307", "https://gist.github.com/harding/bfd094ab488fd3932df59452e5ec753f" ] }, { "rank": 23, "name": "Antoine Poinsot", "affiliation": "Chaincode Labs", "role": "Core Developer", "quantum_urgency_score": 3, "pq_work_volume": 2, "notable": false, "summary": "'The real material threat...is the perception of an imminent existential quantum threat by important stakeholders.' FUD is more dangerous than actual risk.", "key_source": "https://x.com/darosior/status/2002021021625225310", "sources": [ "https://x.com/darosior/status/2002021021625225310" ] }, { "rank": 24, "name": "Jon Atack", "affiliation": "Independent", "role": "BIP Editor, Core Contributor", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "No public statements on quantum risk; BIP editor", "key_source": null, "sources": [] }, { "rank": 25, "name": "Ruben Somsen", "affiliation": "Independent", "role": "BIP Editor", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 1, "notable": false, "summary": "Author of BIP-352 (Silent Payments), a proposal enabling non-interactive reusable payment codes without address reuse.", "key_source": "https://bips.dev/352/", "sources": [ "https://bips.dev/352/", "https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0352.mediawiki" ] }, { "rank": 26, "name": "Olaoluwa Osuntokun", "affiliation": "Lightning Labs (CTO)", "role": "BIP Editor, Lightning Lead", "quantum_urgency_score": 3, "pq_work_volume": 2, "notable": false, "summary": "Engaged with PQ HD wallet derivation on bitcoin-dev (Dec 2025): DilithiumRK, Falcon, SPHINCS+. On Apr 8, 2026 posted zk-STARK proof of BIP-32 seed knowledge enabling BIP-86 Taproot wallet recovery to bitcoin-dev mailing list. Proof generation ~55s on consumer MacBook, verification <2s, ~1.7 MB proof size (per CoinDesk). First executable code for post-quantum Taproot wallet recovery without exposing the seed. Research-engaged, building working tools, not advocating for urgency.", "key_source": "https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2026/04/09/bitcoin-gets-first-working-prototype-of-quantum-resistant-wallet-rescue-tool", "sources": [ "https://gnusha.org/pi/bitcoindev/CAO3Pvs_cetTGP54zDzJJGRPeN7gXrRYGZZYk4mRYnhJQnwotdA@mail.gmail.com/", "https://gnusha.org/pi/bitcoindev/CAO3Pvs8A0GLW-xdSHCKosjPqo7WSf-=YJ7F7s7t65RvtArcBEQ@mail.gmail.com/", "https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2026/04/09/bitcoin-gets-first-working-prototype-of-quantum-resistant-wallet-rescue-tool", "https://www.crypto-news-flash.com/bitcoin-gets-first-working-prototype-of-quantum-resistant-wallet-rescue-tool/" ] }, { "rank": 27, "name": "Bryan Bishop (kanzure)", "affiliation": "Independent (Custodia Bank)", "role": "BIP Editor", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "No quantum statements found across gnusha.org and diyhpl.us transcript archives", "key_source": null, "sources": [] }, { "rank": 28, "name": "Fabian Jahr", "affiliation": "Brink", "role": "Core Developer", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "No public statements on quantum risk", "key_source": null, "sources": [] }, { "rank": 29, "name": "John Newbery", "affiliation": "Brink (co-founder)", "role": "Co-Founder & Executive Director", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "No public statements on quantum risk", "key_source": null, "sources": [] }, { "rank": 30, "name": "Mike Schmidt", "affiliation": "Brink (co-founder)", "role": "Co-Founder & Executive Director", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "No public statements on quantum risk", "key_source": null, "sources": [] }, { "rank": 31, "name": "Steve Lee", "affiliation": "Spiral (Block)", "role": "Lead, Bitcoin Development Funding", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "No public statements on quantum risk", "key_source": null, "sources": [] }, { "rank": 32, "name": "Sebastian Falbesoner", "affiliation": "Brink", "role": "Core Developer", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "Working on FROST (quantum-tangential) but no quantum position statements", "key_source": null, "sources": [] }, { "rank": 33, "name": "Dave Harding", "affiliation": "Brink/Optech", "role": "Bitcoin Optech Primary Writer", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "Optech covers quantum objectively (BIP-360, Chaincode report, SHRINCS/SLH-DSA); no personal advocacy position", "key_source": "https://bitcoinops.org/en/newsletters/", "sources": [ "https://bitcoinops.org/en/newsletters/2025/03/07/", "https://bitcoinops.org/en/newsletters/2025/06/06/", "https://bitcoinops.org/en/newsletters/2025/08/01/", "https://bitcoinops.org/en/newsletters/2026/02/06/" ] }, { "rank": 34, "name": "Niklas Gögge", "affiliation": "Brink", "role": "Core Developer, Security", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 1, "notable": false, "summary": "Focuses on Bitcoin Core security through full-system fuzzing and P2P infrastructure hardening. Developer of the Fuzzamoto framework and serves as a mentor for security-focused Brink interns. No public statements found regarding quantum risk or post-quantum cryptography migration.", "key_source": "https://bitcoinmagazine.com/print/the-core-issue-keeping-bitcoin-core-secure", "sources": [ "https://bitcoinmagazine.com/print/the-core-issue-keeping-bitcoin-core-secure", "https://brink.dev/programs", "https://github.com/dergoegge/fuzzamoto" ] }, { "rank": 35, "name": "Marco Falke", "affiliation": "MIT DCI + OpenSats", "role": "Former Maintainer", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "No public statements on quantum risk", "key_source": null, "sources": [] }, { "rank": 36, "name": "Peter Todd", "affiliation": "Independent", "role": "Protocol Developer, Security Researcher", "quantum_urgency_score": 2, "pq_work_volume": 2, "notable": false, "summary": "'No-one is even close... the actual capabilities are laughable.' Also frames PQ push as potential NSA backdoor.", "key_source": "https://gnusha.org/pi/bitcoindev/aHuKIKqvCZl5rcEX@petertodd.org/", "sources": [ "https://gnusha.org/pi/bitcoindev/aHuKIKqvCZl5rcEX@petertodd.org/", "https://groups.google.com/g/bitcoindev/c/uEaf4bj07rE" ] }, { "rank": 37, "name": "Antoine Riard", "affiliation": "Independent", "role": "Security Researcher, Former Core Dev", "quantum_urgency_score": 3, "pq_work_volume": 3, "notable": false, "summary": "Cautious: wants better Shor's threat modeling per QC architecture; engaged reviewer but not pushing urgency; proposed practical defenses", "key_source": "https://gnusha.org/pi/bitcoindev/87b4e402-39d8-46b0-8269-4f81fa501627n@googlegroups.com/", "sources": [ "https://gnusha.org/pi/bitcoindev/87b4e402-39d8-46b0-8269-4f81fa501627n@googlegroups.com/" ] }, { "rank": 38, "name": "Isabel Foxen Duke", "affiliation": "Independent", "role": "BIP-360 co-author", "quantum_urgency_score": 5, "pq_work_volume": 4, "notable": false, "summary": "BIP-360 co-author (Dec 2025 rewrite); actively building quantum resistance path for Bitcoin", "key_source": "https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0360.mediawiki", "sources": [ "https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0360.mediawiki", "https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/pull/1670" ] }, { "rank": 39, "name": "Sjors Provoost", "affiliation": "Independent/OpenSats", "role": "Core Developer", "quantum_urgency_score": 3, "pq_work_volume": 2, "notable": false, "summary": "'I don't think that in practice we can deploy a PCQ scheme without at the same time making a decision with regards to burn vs free-for-all.' Engaged in policy not just technical.", "key_source": "https://gnusha.org/pi/bitcoindev/ED96C777-5BBD-4ACE-8821-A53FDE8FA128@sprovoost.nl/", "sources": [ "https://gnusha.org/pi/bitcoindev/ED96C777-5BBD-4ACE-8821-A53FDE8FA128@sprovoost.nl/" ] }, { "rank": 40, "name": "Clara Shikhelman", "affiliation": "Chaincode Labs (Head of Research)", "role": "Researcher", "quantum_urgency_score": 4, "pq_work_volume": 4, "notable": false, "summary": "Co-authored Chaincode Labs' 2025 report “Bitcoin and Quantum Computing: Current Status and Future Directions,” estimating that a cryptographically relevant quantum computer could put roughly 4–10 million BTC (about 20–50% of supply) at risk by deriving private keys from exposed public keys, and proposing dual-track ~2-year contingency and ~7-year comprehensive migration paths to post-quantum cryptography.", "key_source": "https://chaincode.com/bitcoin-post-quantum.pdf", "sources": [ "https://chaincode.com/bitcoin-post-quantum.pdf", "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNqYU9TudRU" ] }, { "rank": 41, "name": "Alex Gladstein", "affiliation": "Human Rights Foundation (CSO)", "role": "Funding Leader, Advocate", "quantum_urgency_score": 3, "pq_work_volume": 1, "notable": false, "summary": "Published comprehensive HRF report \"The Quantum Threat to Bitcoin\" (Oct 31, 2025) warning 6.51M BTC vulnerable within 5 years. Supports BIP-360 as quantum-resistant framework. HRF Bitcoin Development Fund to sponsor PQ research, testnets, and migration tooling. Addressed burn-or-steal dilemma for vulnerable coins.", "key_source": "https://hrf.org/latest/the-quantum-threat-to-bitcoin/", "sources": [ "https://hrf.org/latest/the-quantum-threat-to-bitcoin/" ] }, { "rank": 42, "name": "Adam Jonas", "affiliation": "Chaincode Labs (CEO)", "role": "CEO", "quantum_urgency_score": 3, "pq_work_volume": 1, "notable": true, "summary": "Chaincode Labs under Jonas published the foundational 2025 study estimating 20-50% BTC supply vulnerability. Jonas now advocates for BIP-360 (P2QRH) as a critical multi-year 'protection layer' for the network.", "key_source": "https://www.galaxy.com/insights/research/bitcoin-quantum-computing-risk", "sources": [ "https://www.galaxy.com/insights/research/bitcoin-quantum-computing-risk", "https://www.theblock.co/post/388969/coinshares-says-only-10200-btc-face-real-quantum-risk-pushing-back-on-overblown-estimates" ] }, { "rank": 43, "name": "Neha Narula", "affiliation": "MIT DCI (Director)", "role": "Academic, Board Member", "quantum_urgency_score": 4, "pq_work_volume": 2, "notable": true, "summary": "Published compound probability framework April 3, 2026: P(CRQC by 2030) × P(Bitcoin fails to upgrade) ≥5% existential risk. Calls for prioritizing PQ design now. First non-BIP-360-author, non-Blockstream researcher to cross into the proactive camp.", "key_source": "https://nehanarula.org/2026/04/03/bitcoin-and-quantum-computing.html", "sources": [ "https://nehanarula.org/2026/04/03/bitcoin-and-quantum-computing.html" ] }, { "rank": 44, "name": "Karl-Johan Alm", "affiliation": "Independent", "role": "Core Developer", "quantum_urgency_score": 3, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "Distinguished hash-protected vs exposed-pubkey quantum risk in bitcoin-dev thread. Argued Taproot naked pubkeys give attackers unlimited time vs hashed keys where attacker must race transaction confirmation. Cautious position: recognizes real quantum threat vector in P2TR design.", "key_source": "https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/pipermail/bitcoin-dev/2021-March/018645.html", "sources": [ "https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/pipermail/bitcoin-dev/2021-March/018645.html" ] }, { "rank": 45, "name": "Carla Kirk-Cohen", "affiliation": "Chaincode Labs", "role": "Engineer (Lightning/BOLT spec)", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "No public statements on quantum risk", "key_source": null, "sources": [] }, { "rank": 46, "name": "Mark Friedenbach", "affiliation": "Independent", "role": "BIP Author", "quantum_urgency_score": 3, "pq_work_volume": 1, "notable": false, "summary": "Opposed Taproot activation explicitly over quantum risk. Argued P2TR exposes public keys on-chain, making ~6.25M BTC (1/3 of supply) immediately vulnerable to quantum theft. Called Taproot activation without PQ mitigation irresponsible.", "key_source": "https://freicoin.substack.com/p/why-im-against-taproot", "sources": [ "https://freicoin.substack.com/p/why-im-against-taproot" ] }, { "rank": 47, "name": "Lisa Neigut", "affiliation": "Base58 / Bitcoin++", "role": "Conference Organizer, Lightning Engineer", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "No public statements on quantum risk", "key_source": null, "sources": [] }, { "rank": 48, "name": "Ben Price", "affiliation": "OpenSats (Founder)", "role": "Funding Organization Leader", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "No public statements on quantum risk", "key_source": null, "sources": [] }, { "rank": 49, "name": "0xB10C", "affiliation": "Independent (Coinbase grant)", "role": "Network Observer, Developer", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "No public statements on quantum risk", "key_source": null, "sources": [] }, { "rank": 50, "name": "Matias Furszyfer", "affiliation": "Chaincode Labs", "role": "Core Developer", "quantum_urgency_score": 1, "pq_work_volume": 0, "notable": false, "summary": "No public statements on quantum risk", "key_source": null, "sources": [] }, { "rank": 51, "name": "Matt Corallo", "affiliation": "Spiral", "role": "Protocol Developer, LDK Lead", "quantum_urgency_score": 4, "pq_work_volume": 3, "notable": true, "summary": "Proposed OP_HASHBASEDSIG (SPHINCS+) on bitcoin-dev, then laid out a concrete two-step quantum upgrade path on Unchained podcast (Feb 22, 2026): enable PQ key commitments via soft fork first, disable legacy spend paths later. Actively pushing back on the no-one-is-building narrative, noting PQ discussion is now 30-40% of mailing list posts.", "key_source": "https://gnusha.org/pi/bitcoindev/43afd5bb-244e-4698-ba3d-139efa2c2058@mattcorallo.com/", "sources": [ "https://gnusha.org/pi/bitcoindev/43afd5bb-244e-4698-ba3d-139efa2c2058@mattcorallo.com/", "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-do-bitcoiners-do-about-quantum-with-matt-corallo/id1415720320?i=1000749245854" ] }, { "rank": 52, "name": "Adam Back", "affiliation": "Blockstream (CEO)", "role": "CEO, Cryptographer", "quantum_urgency_score": 3, "pq_work_volume": 2, "notable": true, "summary": "Shifted from dismissive ('20-40 years, ridiculously early') to active preparation (Apr 8 CoinDesk): 'prepare Bitcoin and give people a decade to migrate keys to quantum-ready format.' Revealed 20-person Blockstream PQ research team building on Liquid as proving ground. NIST standards adoption underway. No longer dismissing -- actively building.", "key_source": "https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2026/04/08/bitcoin-s-quantum-threat-is-distant-but-migration-clock-is-ticking-says-adam-back-says", "sources": [ "https://x.com/adam3us/status/1989721899991986374", "https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2026/04/08/bitcoin-s-quantum-threat-is-distant-but-migration-clock-is-ticking-says-adam-back-says", "https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/adam-back-says-quantum-threat-to-bitcoin" ] }, { "rank": 53, "name": "John Martinis", "affiliation": "Qolab (CTO), ex-Google Quantum AI", "role": "Nobel Laureate (2025 Physics), White House PCAST member", "quantum_urgency_score": 5, "pq_work_volume": 1, "notable": true, "summary": "Called Bitcoin's elliptic curve cryptography \"the smaller, easier algorithms. The low-hanging fruit\" for quantum attacks (Benzinga, April 7 2026). Stated \"Bitcoin is a little bit different, which is why people should be thinking about this right now\" and \"the crypto community has to plan for this. It's a serious issue.\" Suggested a 5-10 year window. Led Google quantum supremacy demonstration (Sycamore, 2019). Shared 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics. Joined White House PCAST March 26 2026. CTO and co-founder of Qolab.", "key_source": "https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/26/04/51687930/nobel-physicist-warns-bitcoin-could-be-cracked-in-minutes-but-the-community-has-5-10-years-to-act", "sources": [ "https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/26/04/51687930/nobel-physicist-warns-bitcoin-could-be-cracked-in-minutes-but-the-community-has-5-10-years-to-act", "https://thequantuminsider.com/2026/03/26/john-martinis-nobel-prize-winning-physicist-joins-white-house-science-and-technology-panel/" ] }, { "rank": 54, "name": "Jameson Lopp", "affiliation": "Casa (Co-founder/CTO)", "role": "BIP-361 author, Security Engineer", "quantum_urgency_score": 4, "pq_work_volume": 4, "notable": true, "summary": "Authored BIP-361 (PR #1895): ties legacy-signature sunset rules to supply inflation guardrails. Explicitly frames quantum migration as both cryptographic and monetary policy question. Active BIP contributor since July 2025.", "key_source": "https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/pull/1895", "sources": [ "https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/pull/1895", "https://github.com/jlopp" ] }, { "rank": 55, "name": "Avihu Levy", "affiliation": "StarkWare (CPO)", "role": "Chief Product Officer, Cryptographer", "quantum_urgency_score": 5, "pq_work_volume": 5, "notable": true, "summary": "Published Quantum Safe Bitcoin (QSB) on Apr 9, 2026 -- first scheme enabling quantum-resistant Bitcoin transactions without any protocol changes. Uses hash-based proofs (RIPEMD-160 grinding) instead of ECDSA, achieving 118-bit pre-image resistance against quantum attack. Cost: $75-200 GPU compute per transaction. No soft fork, no BIP required. Also co-authored BIP-360.", "key_source": "https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2026/04/10/quantum-safe-bitcoin-now-possible-without-a-soft-fork-but-costs-usd200-a-pop", "sources": [ "https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2026/04/10/quantum-safe-bitcoin-now-possible-without-a-soft-fork-but-costs-usd200-a-pop", "https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/bitcoin-could-be-quantum-safe", "https://starkware.co/blog/bitcoins-quantum-proposal-features-starkware-co-author/" ] }, { "rank": 57, "name": "Adam Gibson (waxwing / AdamISZ)", "affiliation": "Independent (JoinMarket)", "role": "Bitcoin privacy researcher, cryptographer", "quantum_urgency_score": 2, "pq_work_volume": 1, "notable": false, "summary": "Opposes mandatory coin-freezing on principled grounds. In the Algorithm Agility bitcoin-dev thread (Apr 2026): ‘We won’t know for sure when the world shifts from outputs are safe to claimable by anyone.’ Argues Bitcoin’s value derives from immutable property rights — ‘if you locked a utxo with a certain ruleset in the past, that ruleset will still be active.’ Acknowledges quantum uncertainty but maintains principles outweigh safety-based arguments for coin freezing. Advocates opt-in PQ solutions (P2MR) only. Creator of JoinMarket, Bitcoin privacy researcher.", "key_source": "https://groups.google.com/g/bitcoindev/c/7jkVS1K9WLo/m/wY6tgodKAQAJ", "sources": [ "https://groups.google.com/g/bitcoindev/c/7jkVS1K9WLo/m/wY6tgodKAQAJ", "https://github.com/AdamISZ" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-19" }, { "rank": 56, "name": "Echelon Labs Research", "affiliation": "Echelon Labs Research (btcpqresearch)", "role": "Post-quantum research collective", "quantum_urgency_score": 4, "pq_work_volume": 2, "notable": false, "summary": "Published BIP Draft 'Witness Version 3: ML-DSA-65 Post-Quantum Key-Path Spending' on DelvingBitcoin on Apr 16, 2026, with a full working reference implementation (btcpqresearch/bip-pq-witness-v3) applying cleanly against bitcoin/bitcoin at commit c97ac44c. Proposes OP_3 + bech32m bc1r outputs, 5,261-byte witness stacks (3,309-byte sig + 1,952-byte pubkey), PQSighash tagged hash (epoch 1, ext_flag 3), SCRIPT_VERIFY_WITNESS_V3 flag, deployable as BIP 9 soft fork. Offered as a candidate PQ scheme for BIP-361 Phase B migration.", "key_source": "https://delvingbitcoin.org/t/bip-draft-witness-version-3-ml-dsa-65-post-quantum-key-path-spending/2422", "sources": [ "https://delvingbitcoin.org/t/bip-draft-witness-version-3-ml-dsa-65-post-quantum-key-path-spending/2422", "https://github.com/btcpqresearch/bip-pq-witness-v3/blob/7bbfb294337201eb7273692110b1d137e07d3e40/bip-pq-witness-v3.mediawiki", "https://github.com/btcpqresearch/bip-pq-witness-v3", "https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/fips/204/final" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-22" }, { "rank": 58, "name": "Giancarlo Lelli", "affiliation": "Independent", "role": "Quantum cryptography researcher", "quantum_urgency_score": 5, "pq_work_volume": 2, "notable": true, "summary": "Won Project Eleven Q-Day Prize (1 BTC) on Apr 24, 2026 for breaking a 15-bit elliptic curve key on cloud-accessible IBM quantum hardware — 512× improvement over the prior 6-bit record (Tippeconnic, Sep 2025). Used a Shor's algorithm variant after a year of independent work. The largest public demonstration of the ECC attack class that threatens Bitcoin's secp256k1. While 256-bit keys remain out of reach, the scaling trajectory is the signal: specialized hardware requirements are collapsing faster than 2024 projections.", "key_source": "https://thequantuminsider.com/2026/04/24/project-eleven-q-day-prize-quantum-ecc-attack/", "sources": [ "https://thequantuminsider.com/2026/04/24/project-eleven-q-day-prize-quantum-ecc-attack/", "https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2026/04/24/researcher-wins-1-bitcoin-bounty-for-largest-quantum-attack-on-underlying-tech", "https://www.theblock.co/post/398792/researcher-breaks-15-bit-elliptic-curve-key-wins-1-bitcoin-bounty-project-eleven", "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/project-eleven-awards-1-btc-q-day-prize-for-largest-quantum-attack-on-elliptic-curve-cryptography-to-date-302752439.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-26" }, { "rank": 59, "name": "Craig Gidney (Google Quantum AI)", "affiliation": "Google Quantum AI", "role": "Quantum cryptanalysis researcher", "quantum_urgency_score": 5, "pq_work_volume": 3, "notable": true, "summary": "Lead/co-author of arXiv 2603.28846 (Mar 2026, Babbush, Gidney et al.), the foundational Google Quantum AI paper that compressed the secp256k1 ECDLP qubit threshold to under 500,000 physical qubits — projecting a ~9 minute crack window for any pubkey-revealed BTC. v2 (Apr 15) further distinguished fast-clock (superconducting/photonic) from slow-clock (ion-trap/neutral-atom) architectures, quantifying on-spend mempool attacks within mempool-confirmation latency. Gidney's separately published 10% CRQC-by-2030 probability estimate is the explicit anchor cited in Neha Narula's score-update post; Babbush threshold figures (1,200 logical qubits / under 90M Toffoli gates) are the de facto reference standard now adopted across the bitcoin-dev PQ thread, BIP-360/BIP-361 drafts, and Bitcoin Optech newsletters.", "key_source": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.28846", "sources": [ "https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.28846", "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2603.28846", "https://research.google/people/craig-gidney/", "https://nehanarula.org/2026/04/03/bitcoin-and-quantum-computing.html" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-27" }, { "rank": 60, "name": "Oriole (IACR ePrint 2026/793)", "affiliation": "Academic — lattice cryptography research", "role": "Post-quantum threshold signature scheme", "quantum_urgency_score": 4, "pq_work_volume": 1, "notable": true, "summary": "IACR ePrint 2026/793 'Oriole — Adaptively Secure Partially Non-Interactive Threshold Signatures from Lattices' proposes a lattice-based threshold signature scheme with adaptive security under standard LWE assumptions, skipping FROST's trusted-setup overhead. Partial non-interactivity (NI pre-signing, interactive finalize) maps directly to Bitcoin multi-sig flows where co-signers go online at different times. Positioned as a deployment-ready candidate for BIP-360 P2QRH multi-sig design space, which currently lacks a lattice-tier threshold scheme. Tradeoff: ~1.5x signature size vs Falcon, making witness-bloat the primary deployment concern.", "key_source": "https://eprint.iacr.org/2026/793", "sources": [ "https://eprint.iacr.org/2026/793", "https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0360.mediawiki", "https://bitcoinops.org/en/newsletters/2026/04/24/" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-26" }, { "rank": 61, "name": "Chevignard, Fouque, Schrottenloher (INRIA)", "affiliation": "INRIA — quantum cryptanalysis research", "role": "Academic quantum cryptanalysts", "quantum_urgency_score": 4, "pq_work_volume": 1, "notable": true, "summary": "EUROCRYPT 2026 paper (IACR ePrint 2026/280) 'Reducing the Number of Qubits in Quantum ECDLP' presents prime-curve ECDLP quantum circuits achieving 3.12n + o(n) qubits versus 5n + o(n) prior (Häner 2020). For P-256: 1,193 logical qubits — a 44% reduction. Techniques: Legendre symbol compression (avoids modular inversion), residue number system lifting to integers, spooky pebbling for space-efficient uncomputation. P-256 now breaks with 42% fewer logical qubits than RSA-3072. Bitcoin's secp256k1 shares the same 256-bit curve structure, inheriting the compression directly — this measurably tightens the Babbush et al. <500K physical-qubit ECDLP-256 budget.", "key_source": "https://eprint.iacr.org/2026/280", "sources": [ "https://eprint.iacr.org/2026/280", "https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.28846" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-26" }, { "rank": 62, "name": "Delfosse et al. (IonQ — Walking Cat)", "affiliation": "IonQ — trapped-ion fault-tolerant computing research", "role": "Quantum hardware architects", "quantum_urgency_score": 4, "pq_work_volume": 1, "notable": true, "summary": "arXiv 2604.19481 (Delfosse et al., 21 Apr 2026) — 'Walking Cat Architecture': a full-stack trapped-ion fault-tolerant blueprint with compiler, QEC protocols, micro-architecture, fast decoder, and end-to-end simulations. The [[102,22,9]] LDPC code packs 22 logical qubits into 102 physical qubits — a 2,514-physical system yields 110 logical qubits running at ~1M T-gates per day. Distinct hardware path from neutral-atom (QuEra) and IBM heavy-hex; provides a second viable trajectory toward the Babbush et al. <500K-physical-qubit / <1,200-logical-qubit secp256k1 ECDLP break threshold. Delfosse (ex-Microsoft, now IonQ) leads a complete arch+code+decoder design targeting hundreds of logical qubits running millions of logical gates on near-term ion traps.", "key_source": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.19481", "sources": [ "https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.19481", "https://www.ionq.com/blog/blueprint-for-fault-tolerant-trapped-ion-quantum-computing-the-walking-cat-architecture", "https://thequantuminsider.com/2026/04/23/ionq-researchers-say-walking-cat-blueprint-could-lead-to-machines-that-run-millions-of-gates-on-thousands-of-qubits/" ], "last_verified": "2026-04-25" }, { "rank": 63, "name": "Postquant Labs / Quip Network", "affiliation": "Postquant Labs — Arch Network Bitcoin smart-contract layer", "role": "Post-quantum Bitcoin wallet and SDK team", "quantum_urgency_score": 4, "pq_work_volume": 2, "notable": true, "summary": "Launched Quip.Network on Apr 28, 2026: a no-soft-fork Bitcoin wallet and SDK that layers WOTS+ (Winternitz One-Time Signature) hash-based signatures through Arch Network's Bitcoin-native smart-contract layer while retaining existing ECDSA custody. CTO Dr. Richard Carback frames the design as reducing the exposed-public-key quantum attack window to roughly two Bitcoin blocks (~20 minutes), aimed at P2PK and reused-P2PKH UTXOs while BIP-360/361 ratification remains unresolved. This is not a consensus upgrade and still depends on adoption/Arch integration, but it is a concrete deployable mitigation path with live developer tooling rather than another roadmap-only proposal.", "key_source": "https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2026/04/28/emb-2-pm-utc-new-wallet-offers-way-to-tackle-bitcoin-s-quantum-risk-without-a-fork", "sources": [ "https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2026/04/28/emb-2-pm-utc-new-wallet-offers-way-to-tackle-bitcoin-s-quantum-risk-without-a-fork", "https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/quipnetwork-unveils-quantum-resistant-bitcoin-protection-as-coin-freeze-debate-divides-developers-302755947.html", "https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.28846" ], "last_verified": "2026-05-01" }, { "rank": 64, "name": "Spyros Tserkis, Muhammad Umer, Eleftherios Mastorakis, Dimitris G. Angelakis", "affiliation": "Academic (Quantum Physics Research)", "role": "Quantum computing researchers", "quantum_urgency_score": 4, "pq_work_volume": 1, "notable": true, "summary": "Authors of arXiv 2604.25861 introducing constant-depth multi-controlled Toffoli gates via teleportation. Eliminates depth scaling in quantum arithmetic circuits, reducing execution time for Shor-based ECDLP attacks on secp256k1 while maintaining linear ancilla overhead. Directly compresses the circuit-depth budget in Babbush et al.'s <500K physical-qubit ECDLP attack model.", "key_source": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.25861", "sources": [ "https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.25861" ], "last_verified": "2026-05-05" }, { "rank": 65, "name": "Debora Ramacciotti, Martin Steinbach, Bence Temesi, Andreea-Iulia Lefterovici, Antonio F. Rotundo", "affiliation": "Academic (Quantum Computing Research)", "role": "Quantum computing researchers", "quantum_urgency_score": 4, "pq_work_volume": 1, "notable": true, "summary": "Authors of arXiv 2604.24973 introducing gate-merging optimizations for Grover-Rudolph state preparation, achieving ~22% reduction in CNOT gate counts. Improves efficiency of quantum search subroutines used in ECDLP attack pipelines by lowering circuit depth and coherence requirements.", "key_source": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.24973", "sources": [ "https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.24973" ], "last_verified": "2026-05-05" }, { "rank": 66, "name": "Xiang Fang, Ming Wang, Yue Wu, Sharanya Prabhu, Dean Tullsen, Narasinga Rao Miniskar, Frank Mueller, Travis Humble, Yufei Ding", "affiliation": "Academic / National Labs (Quantum Computing Research)", "role": "Quantum computing researchers", "quantum_urgency_score": 4, "pq_work_volume": 1, "notable": true, "summary": "Authors of arXiv 2604.21472 introducing LightStim, a framework that automates Detector Error Model (DEM) construction for quantum error correction protocols. Enables faster evaluation and prototyping of fault-tolerant quantum systems by removing manual annotation bottlenecks — accelerating the path to practical QEC at scale.", "key_source": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.21472", "sources": [ "https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.21472" ], "last_verified": "2026-05-05" } ] }