Imperial College Unveils Post-Quantum Bitcoin Framework to Secure Lightning Network
October 14, 2026
Coinbase lays out a thoughtful, multi-faceted plan to prepare Bitcoin for a post-quantum era, aiming to protect funds, preserve node validation, and keep wallets and custodians usable.
An alliance estimates about 6.4 million Bitcoin, or 30.2% of the supply, already has exposed public keys, making those coins vulnerable to future quantum attacks even though current quantum computers can’t steal them yet.
The core idea is to decouple the output container from the spending signature using BIP-360’s Pay-to-Merkle-Root, which would let a future quantum-safe signature be added without reworking outputs; P2MR is central, with P2TRv2 noted as a less mature alternative.
Capability without assurance is risky, so organizations should assess maturity through a sequence: capability, configuration, negotiation, verification, and evidence to avoid theoretical protections that never materialize.
Step 3—Do vendor-level engagement and dependency analysis to map third-party and vendor dependencies, migrations, and bottlenecks, ensuring risk is accounted for in the roadmap.
Bringing the roadmap together: following all steps prevents rework and yields better outcomes than rushing or skipping foundational work.
The piece ends with a disclaimer that the content is not investment advice.
The collaboration envisions benefits for government entities, enterprises, and telecom operators through an integrated migration and deployment plan.
Tamer Bdran of NEC GCC emphasizes moving clients from assessment to secure, scalable deployment to help critical infrastructure and telecom operators navigate the transition.
Bdran reiterates the shift from assessment toward secure, scalable deployment for essential infrastructure and telecom networks.
Experts note cloud timelines remain fluid, with ongoing assessment and adjustment of the migration roadmap.
The report stresses offering both stateful and stateless signature options to mitigate forgery risks from state mismanagement.
Summary based on 52 sources
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Sources

East Texas A&M University, ETAMU • Oct 13, 2026
ETAMU Researcher Helps Protect Bitcoin Lightning Network From Quantum Threats
Bitcoin Magazine • Oct 13, 2026
Researchers Build Post-Quantum Defense For Lightning Network
CryptoNews • Oct 14, 2026
Quantum-Resistant Bitcoin Just Arrived – And It Doesn’t Need a Soft Fork
Coinpedia Fintech News • Oct 14, 2026
Quantum-Resistant Bitcoin Just Arrived – And It Doesn’t Need a Soft Fork