Cory Fields, a developer at MIT’s Digital Currency Initiative, introduced a proposal for quantum landmines to the bitcoin-dev mailing list on November 4, 2026. The concept aims to deter potential quantum computer attacks on the Bitcoin network by requiring attackers to risk their own collateral before attempting to access others' funds.
The proposed mechanism utilizes a commit-reveal structure, where a quantum-safe output acts as a landmine. If an attacker attempts to exploit vulnerable addresses, they risk forfeiting their posted collateral. This approach shifts the focus from purely cryptographic defense to economic incentives and game theory.
As of early November 2026, approximately 7.1 million BTC, representing about 35% of the total circulating supply, are held in wallets with exposed public keys. These legacy addresses are considered the primary targets for potential quantum-based theft, as the public keys are already visible on the blockchain.
The implementation of this concept would require a soft fork, a backward-compatible network upgrade. Fields noted that the technical mechanics and rules for such a change are currently unresolved and require further community discussion. The proposal is currently a thought experiment and not yet a formal code change.
