Bitcoin’s BIP-361 proposes a phased quantum upgrade that could freeze vulnerable BTC if holders fail to migrate in time.
Bitcoin’s quantum debate has moved from theory into draft code. BIP-361 lays out a phased plan to move Bitcoin away from legacy ECDSA and Schnorr signatures after post-quantum outputs exist.
The proposal would first stop fresh BTC from landing in vulnerable address types, then tighten spending rules later under a five-year flag day.
BIP-361 Bitcoin Quantum Migration Plan
BIP-361 appears on the Bitcoin BIPs repository as a draft consensus soft fork titled “Post Quantum Migration and Legacy Signature Sunset.”
🏆 BITCOIN IS PREPARING FOR THE QUANTUM ERA
A new draft proposal, BIP-361, aims to protect Bitcoin from future quantum computing threats.
Here's what it proposes:
👉 Stop new transfers to quantum-vulnerable addresses
👉 Gradually phase out legacy ECDSA and Schnorr signatures… pic.twitter.com/a3zTmT42ai— Bitfunded (@bitfunded) July 20, 2026
The draft names Jameson Lopp and five coauthors, and it still depends on a future post-quantum signature BIP before it can move forward.
Phase A would begin about 160,000 blocks, or roughly three years, after activation.
At that point, users could still spend from legacy outputs, but they could no longer send new BTC to quantum-vulnerable address types.
Phase B would follow two years later. The draft says nodes would then tighten verification rules for ECDSA and Schnorr spends through a quantum-safe rescue path designed to block theft.
The proposal frames the change as a way to reduce the attack surface before a crisis hits. It also treats the migration as a long network upgrade, not a sudden switch.
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Why Exposed Public Keys Matter for Bitcoin Price
The draft says more than 34% of Bitcoin had revealed a public key on-chain as of March 1, 2026. It argues those coins could face quantum theft if machines reach the needed level.
The authors also warn that an attacker could act quietly. In that scenario, stolen BTC might move much later, which would make the threat harder for the market to spot in real time.
BIP-361 says the migration window matters because wallets, exchanges, custodians, and miners usually move slowly.
The draft says a clear deadline gives the ecosystem time to adjust before pressure lands on Bitcoin price and confidence.
— Wise Advice (@wiseadvicesumit) July 20, 2026
That timing is why the topic spread fast across crypto feeds on X. Wise Advice and other accounts pushed the same central point, that Bitcoin may need to prepare before quantum risk shifts from theory to practice.
What Bitcoin Investors Should Watch Next
For investors, the first point is simple. BIP-361 is still a draft, and it is not active or scheduled on the network.
The second point is just as clear. The proposal depends on a future post-quantum signature standard, so the live debate stays inside Bitcoin development for now.
The market question sits around trust, migration timing, and wallet readiness.
If Bitcoin eventually adopts a path like this, the next fight will center on who upgrades first and how safely older coins can move.
For now, the draft has already done one job. It has forced Bitcoin investors, developers, and custodians to think about quantum risk before the network has to react under pressure.
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