Adam Back Introduction: Quantum attacks may force Bitcoin's anonymous founder Satoshi Nakamoto to transfer assets

Since its launch in 2009, Bitcoin has won the reputation of "digital gold" for its decentralized, transparent and secure characteristics. However, with the advancement of technology, especially the rapid development of quantum computing, more and more discussions have pointed out that this encryption system, which is regarded as unbreakable, may face unprecedented threats.

Adam Back: Quantum attack may force Satoshi Nakamoto to transfer assets

However, the author believes that readers don’t need to panic too much. After all, even if there is a breakthrough in the research and development of quantum computers, encryption technology can also design higher security guarantees based on this. In addition to worrying about cryptocurrency networks, the security of traditional finance may require us to worry more.

On the other hand, the challenge of quantum computing also brings an unexpected possibility, which may solve the biggest mystery of the cryptocurrency community in a long time: Is Satoshi Nakamoto, the anonymous founder of Bitcoin, still alive?

This view comes from Adam Back, an early member of Cypherpunk and known as the "Godfather of Bitcoin". Adam Back believes that the pressure from quantum computers may force Satoshi Nakamoto to move the bitcoin he holds, thus revealing whether it exists.

At the "Satoshi Spritz" event in Italy on April 18, Adam Back revealed in an interview that the pressure from quantum computers may force Satoshi Nakamoto to move its holdings, thus revealing whether it exists.

He explained further that quantum technology could crack the elliptic curve digital signature algorithm (ECDSA) currently used by Bitcoin, which would force users holding large numbers of Bitcoin, including Satoshi Nakamoto, to transfer funds to new quantum-resistant addresses. If quantum computers are already available and people from universities and research labs can use them, people will face a choice: either make someone steal the bitcoins or freeze and discard the stamps.

He predicts that the Bitcoin community will choose to require users to transfer funds to protect assets, and this process may also allow Satoshi Nakamoto's Bitcoin to move, thereby indirectly demonstrating whether it can still control the funds.

However, Adam Back also added that whether Satoshi Nakamoto's survival can be confirmed in this way depends on Bitcoin's future privacy features. "With the improvement of the Bitcoin protocol, especially privacy-related upgrades, tracking the movement of these funds may become more difficult," he noted.

This means that even if Satoshi Nakamoto moves funds, improved privacy technology may make it difficult for the outside world to track his identity or intentions.

Why do quantum computers threaten Bitcoin?

The threat to quantum computers stems from their super computing power. Compared with traditional computers, quantum computers use the principles of quantum mechanics to solve certain mathematical problems at exponential speeds, including cracking encryption algorithms such as ECDSA.

According to current public information, Satoshi Nakamoto holds about 1 million Bitcoins, and these Bitcoins have never moved since the early days of Bitcoin’s establishment. Once the quantum computer can crack ECDSA, these funds may be at risk of being stolen.

However, in the face of the potential threat of quantum computing, the Bitcoin community has begun to take action. Some developers have proposed re-enabled opcodes, such as OP_CAT, to support quantum resistance signature technology. In addition, some proposals advocate hard fork, mandating the network to transfer funds from the old ECDSA address to the new quantum-resistant address - however, hard fork may cause community controversy because it requires broad consensus and may lead to network splits, and more consensus is needed to build community.

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