BTQ, a quantum-resistant cryptography organization, launched the "Bitcoin Quantum" testnet, marking the entry of its quantum fork resistance into the practical testing phase.

BTQ Technologies (BTQ), a specialist in quantum-resistant cryptography, recently unveiled a solution for protecting the Bitcoin blockchain: a permissionless fork testnet called "Bitcoin Quantum," which is claimed to be capable of withstanding quantum challenges. Chris Tam, Head of Partnerships at BTQ, stated that Bitcoin Quantum is a publicly accessible network where miners, developers, researchers, and users can stress-test quantum-resistant transactions and reveal trade-offs in real-world operation before mainnet upgrade discussions become urgent. The system includes a block explorer and mining pools, providing immediate accessibility. Tam explained that in August 2024, the quantum-resistant algorithm, commonly known as "Dilithium" (officially called the Modular Lattice Digital Signature Algorithm ML-DSA), was standardized in the United States, and this is the technology used in the Bitcoin Quantum network. This algorithm has not yet been widely adopted in rapidly innovating fields such as cryptocurrencies, primarily due to its high operating costs. Compared to the digital signatures currently used to send messages to the blockchain, even WhatsApp messages, the data size of the quantum-resistant algorithm is at least 200 times larger. Therefore, while methods exist to address quantum risks, they also present their own problems, primarily in terms of performance and cost during large-scale deployment. (Coindesk)