Quantum computers likely to reveal if Satoshi is alive — Adam Back

Adam Back, a prominent figure in early cypherpunk circles and mentioned in the Bitcoin white paper, speculates on the impact of quantum computing on Bitcoin's creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. He suggests that future quantum computers, potentially within 20 years, could threaten Bitcoin's cryptography. This threat would necessitate a community decision: deprecate old addresses or risk theft. Back believes the community will likely choose to deprecate, forcing Nakamoto to move their coins to avoid loss. However, the revelation of Nakamoto's activity depends on Bitcoin's future privacy features. Some believe privacy upgrades could obscure whether the coins are moved. Conversely, another community member doubts Nakamoto would move the coins even if alive, preferring community decision-making. Back advocates for a gradual transition to quantum-resistant signatures in Bitcoin, using a taproot-based approach. The choice of quantum-resistant signature implementation poses challenges, balancing security and data storage efficiency. Ultimately, the situation could provide clues about Nakamoto's continued existence, depending on technological developments and Nakamoto's own actions. The future of Bitcoin's security in the face of quantum computing remains a subject of ongoing discussion and development.