TLDR
- Galaxy committed up to $5 million for developers building quantum-resistant Bitcoin security tools and audits.
- The initiative includes Galaxy Research reports and a Quantum Advisory Council of post-quantum cryptography experts.
- Bitcoin relies on elliptic curve cryptography, which future quantum machines could threaten at scale globally.
- Galaxy said grant applications will target signature schemes, wallet migration tools, and formal security audits.
- The program follows growing concern about Q-Day timelines and exposed Bitcoin public keys worldwide today.
Galaxy Digital has launched a $5 million Bitcoin Quantum Readiness Initiative as developers prepare for quantum computing risks. The program will fund post-quantum security work, publish research, and form an expert advisory council. The move comes as Bitcoin’s slow upgrade process faces rising pressure from governments and cryptography researchers worldwide.
Galaxy Launches Bitcoin Quantum Readiness Initiative
Galaxy Digital announced the new program on Tuesday, committing up to $5 million in grants for developers and researchers working on post-quantum Bitcoin security. The initiative also includes a Galaxy Research publishing program and a Quantum Advisory Council.
The company said grant applications are expected to open immediately. Funding will focus on quantum-resistant transaction proposals, post-quantum signature schemes, wallet migration tools, and security audits for proposed Bitcoin upgrades.
Galaxy founder and CEO Mike Novogratz said, “we believe it’s important that we help be part of the solution.” He said the program aims to support practical work that can keep Bitcoin secure over the long term.
Bitcoin Faces Long Upgrade Timeline
Bitcoin relies on elliptic curve cryptography, which could face risks from a powerful enough quantum computer. No cryptographically relevant quantum computer exists today, but research timelines have narrowed across government and private sectors.
Galaxy said Bitcoin’s decentralized governance makes security upgrades slow to design, review, test, and deploy. Protocol changes can take years because developers, miners, node operators, wallets, and users must reach broad agreement.
The initiative arrives after NIST finalized its first post-quantum cryptography standards in 2024. A U.S. executive order also set a 2031 federal deadline to defend systems against quantum attacks on classical cryptography.
Researchers often refer to the future risk point as “Q-Day.” That term describes a stage where a quantum machine could break cryptographic keys and threaten exposed Bitcoin public keys.
Advisory Council to Guide Research
Galaxy formed a Quantum Advisory Council to review grant proposals and guide research. The initial members include Barry Sanders, Damien Bérubé, and Eran Tromer.
Sanders is a professor and Scientific Director of Quantum City at the University of Calgary. Bérubé is an MIT Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, while Tromer is a computer science professor at Boston University.
Galaxy Research head Alex Thorn said, “There’s a gap between the quantum computing world” and Bitcoin development. He said Galaxy wants to connect investors, policymakers, and developers through research and funding.
Barry Sanders said quantum timelines continue to compress as governments and industries prepare for future risks. Galaxy also invited other institutions and Bitcoin stakeholders to co-fund grants or contribute research.
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