Bitcoin developer Cory Fields has proposed a conceptual framework called "quantum landmines" designed to deter future quantum computing attacks on Bitcoin wallets by making theft financially punitive. In a November 4 post to the Bitcoin development mailing list, Fields outlined mechanisms that would require attackers to risk their own capital when attempting to steal funds from vulnerable addresses.
Mechanism of Quantum Landmines
The proposal requires wallet owners to create a hidden proof of control over their private keys before quantum threats become viable. This involves generating a small, separate quantum-safe Bitcoin output that serves as evidence of prior ownership. Under the suggested rules, if a thief attempts to spend coins from a vulnerable wallet, they must add collateral equal to the stolen amount from their own quantum-safe wallet.
Once the transaction is broadcast, a challenge period begins. Fields used a 30-day window as an example, during which the original owner can reveal their hidden proof. If successful, the owner seizes both the original coins and the thief’s collateral. The thief can only spend the funds freely if no challenge is issued within the designated timeframe.
Auctions for Abandoned Coins
Fields also addressed scenarios where original owners are unavailable, such as with lost or abandoned coins. He proposed two auction designs, termed "staked auctions" and "sats auctions," to manage these assets. These mechanisms aim to handle apparently dormant coins where no party is present to trigger a landmine defense.
Hypothetical Status and Requirements
Fields characterized these ideas as "thought experiments" rather than completed software upgrades. No such protections currently exist in the Bitcoin network. Implementation would require the development of quantum-safe wallets, the introduction of new consensus rules, and broad community agreement on activation methods. Fields has not published any code implementation or activation schedule, and details regarding auction payouts remain unresolved.
