Post-Quantum Cryptography Institution BTQ Announces Bitcoin Post-Quantum Algorithm Solution Bitcoin Quantum

**January 12 (Coindesk) — Post-quantum cryptography firm BTQ Technologies (BTQ) has unveiled “Bitcoin Quantum,” a permissionless, forkless testnet built to secure the Bitcoin blockchain against quantum attacks.** BTQ partnership lead Chris Tam noted Bitcoin Quantum is a public, executable network where miners, developers, researchers, and users can stress-test quantum transactions—uncovering real-world tradeoffs ahead of urgent mainnet upgrade discussions. The network features a block explorer and mining pools for real-time access. Tam explained the post-quantum algorithm Dilithium (officially ML-DSA, the Lattice-based Digital Signature Algorithm) was standardized in the U.S. in August 2024, and powers Bitcoin Quantum. Dilithium has seen limited adoption in fast-moving innovation spaces like crypto, primarily due to high operational costs: unlike digital signatures for individual blockchain transactions or WhatsApp messages, post-quantum algorithms require at least 200x more data. While quantum risk mitigation methods exist, they introduce tradeoffs—especially around performance and cost efficiency at scale.