Key Insights:
- Bitcoin BTC developers sharply increased quantum risk discussions in 2025, moving from theory to real upgrade planning.
- The Ethereum Foundation elevated post-quantum security to a core priority, forming a dedicated team and launching live PQ devnets.
- Privacy-focused networks like Monero and Zcash remain key reference points due to their heavy use of hash-based cryptography.
Bitcoin (BTC) Dev response to quantum risk has entered a faster phase, with developers moving from long silence to active planning. Data shared by Willy Woo shows a sharp rise in technical debate, suggesting a broader shift across major interest groups.
Bitcoin BTC Devs Go Offensive on Quantum Risks
For years, quantum computing barely registered in Bitcoin development circles. From 2018 through the end of 2024, the Bitcoin-Dev mailing list showed almost no sustained discussion on quantum threats.
However, that changed suddenly in 2025. According to an analysis published by Willy Woo, January marked the first real break from that pattern. Early messages focused on basic ideas such as hash-based signatures and whether vulnerable coins should be isolated in the future.
February was quiet, but the pause did not last. By March, proposals linked to BIP-360 and P2QRH began to circulate, pulling more developers into the discussion. The topic was no longer academic. It was becoming practical.
Momentum increased through the second quarter of the year. Meanwhile, in June, messages related to this concern made up roughly a quarter of all traffic on the mailing list. Developers debated commit-reveal vaults, recovery tools for exposed public keys, and how to protect long-dormant coins.
By July, the risk discussions peaked at around 30% of total messages, a level never seen before. July also brought the first Quantum Bitcoin BTC Summit in San Francisco. That event reflected what was already happening in private channels.
Bitcoin developers were no longer asking whether quantum risk mattered. They were asking how to manage it without breaking the system. Taproot interactions, OP_CAT, and upgrade paths dominated the debate. Woo described the shift as late but now “accelerating quickly,” a view supported by the data.
Ethereum Foundation Declares Post-Quantum Security a Priority
Ethereum followed a different path but reached a similar conclusion. Justin Drake of the Ethereum Foundation announced the creation of a dedicated Post Quantum team led by Thomas Coratger. The move formalized work that had been underway for years but was rarely highlighted in public.
Notably, Ethereum research into quantum resistance dates back to 2019, with early presentations on long-term security.
Since 2024, post-quantum design has been central to the lean Ethereum roadmap. In 2026, that focus became explicit. A new series of bi-weekly All Core Devs breakout calls will address those transactions.
This covers user-facing security, account abstraction, and future signature aggregation built around leanVM. The Foundation also introduced a one-million-dollar Poseidon Prize to strengthen hash-based cryptography, signaling confidence in non-signature-heavy approaches.
Multi-client post-quantum consensus devnets are already live, involving teams such as Lighthouse and Grandine, with more clients expected to join. Ethereum plans a full transition over the coming years with no downtime and no loss of funds.
Privacy Coins and the Wider Impact of Quantum Preparation
Privacy-focused networks like Monero and Zcash add another layer to the discussion, fueled by Bitcoin BTC developers. Essentially, these systems depend heavily on cryptographic privacy, which makes quantum resistance especially important.
Both projects already rely on hash-based tools and zero-knowledge proofs, designs often viewed as more adaptable to a post-quantum future.
Notably, neither Monero nor Zcash announced major changes tied directly to the 2025 surge in debate. It is worth mentioning that their existing structures place them in a different position than older signature-heavy systems.
Developers across ecosystems are watching each other closely, sharing lessons even when approaches differ. Taken together, the trend is clear. Bitcoin BTC Dev Response to Quantum Risk is no longer theoretical.
Ethereum has elevated post-quantum security to a strategic goal. Besides, privacy protocols remain part of the reference set for future-safe design. The focus has shifted from distant risk to near-term preparation, and that shift now appears irreversible.