Bitcoin Developers Propose Pay-to-Merkle-Root to Mitigate Quantum Risks

Bitcoin developers have introduced a new output type known as Pay-to-Merkle-Root (P2MR) to address potential long-term risks posed by quantum computing. According to NS3.AI, this new approach aims to eliminate the vulnerable key-path spend option found in Taproot. While P2MR increases transaction size and costs, and reduces privacy due to mandatory script-path reveals, it is designed as an optional upgrade. This proposal underscores Bitcoin's gradual and voluntary upgrade process, which is crucial for preparing against future quantum threats.