- Bitcoin developer Cory Fields proposed Quantum Landmines, Staked Auction and Sats Auction to protect legacy Bitcoin holdings against future quantum-enabled theft.
- Quantum Landmines would let existing owners establish cryptographic ownership proofs and claim attackers’ collateral through a 30-day transaction lock.
- Staked Auction and Sats Auction introduce bidding mechanisms that allow participants to compete for vulnerable BTC using quantum-safe collateral.
Bitcoin Core developer Cory Fields has proposed three mechanisms to protect Bitcoin holdings from future quantum-enabled theft. His concepts, Quantum Landmines, Staked Auction, and Sats Auction, would require collateral when spending legacy BTC after quantum attacks become possible. The proposals also introduce ways for existing holders and third parties to claim attackers’ collateral.
Quantum Landmines Could Protect Legacy Bitcoin
Fields described the mechanisms as thought experiments in a proposal on post-quantum Bitcoin migration. His framework assumes developers introduce quantum-safe outputs before quantum attacks become feasible.
After that point, spending legacy Bitcoin would require full collateralization and additional conditions. These could include time locks and alternative spending paths enforced through new network rules.
Quantum Landmines would use a commit-reveal scheme to establish ownership before quantum attacks emerge. Owners would embed cryptographic proof in a small quantum-safe output before the threat becomes practical.
If an attacker spends vulnerable BTC, the transaction would remain locked for 30 days. However, the original owner could reveal the earlier proof and claim the attacker’s collateral.
Staked Auction Introduces Precommitted Bids
Fields also proposed Staked Auction for vulnerable coins whose private keys owners may have lost. Participants would stake quantum-safe BTC before quantum attacks become possible.
Their commitments would identify vulnerable outputs, bid amounts, and replacement public keys. After an attacker spends the targeted coins, the auction would allow participants to claim collateral.
For example, a holder could stake 50 BTC and commit to a 40 BTC bid. Another participant could later submit a lower 30 BTC bid. The auction would continue until its second timeout expires.
Fields outlined several possible rules, including collateral burning, penalties for losing bids, and payments to miners.
Sats Auction Could Draw Outside Bidders
The third proposal, Sats Auction, would remove the requirement for advance staking. Instead, every legacy coin spend would trigger an auction after the initial timeout. The highest bidder would receive the vulnerable coins minus their bid.
Meanwhile, the second-highest bidder would lose their payment without receiving anything. Fields discussed the concept with Neha Narula, who suggested using the Dollar Auction game. He has not selected a preferred design, and all three mechanisms remain conceptual.
