Blockstream CEO Adam Back said a future post-quantum upgrade to Bitcoin could reveal how much of Satoshi Nakamoto’s estimated holdings remain accessible.
Speaking at Paris Blockchain Week, Back said users would need to migrate funds to quantum-resistant addresses, with unmoved coins likely considered lost after the transition.
“This migration to post-quantum address format may tell us how many of those coins (Satoshi) still has,”
Back said.
Estimates suggest Satoshi holds between 500,000 and 1 million BTC, though blockchain data indicates as much as 1.09 million Bitcoin could be linked to the creator’s wallets.
Back said the quantum threat remains distant, arguing that a breakthrough capable of compromising Bitcoin’s cryptography is likely at least 20 years away, giving developers time to prepare. Following the announcement the Bitcoin price was unchanged at $XX.
The discussion comes as developers explore proposals to restrict movement of vulnerable coins and transition to quantum-resistant systems.
Research from Blockstream has proposed hash-based signature schemes as a potential solution to secure the network in a post-quantum environment.
At the time of reporting, Bitcoin price was $74,661.74.