Quantum-Proof Bitcoin: BTQ Launches Testnet to Tackle the Biggest Threat to Crypto

[Ben Graham]

One of the biggest narratives, not only in crypto but across all of technology, is quantum computing. There have been warnings that the technology could completely unravel legacy banking systems and crypto along with it.

In response, BTQ Technologies has launched a new “quantum-proof” protocol testnet this week, claiming it shows how the network could defend itself against future quantum computers.

Bitcoin Quantum Testnet is LIVE

17 years after the birth of Bitcoin, the first quantum-safe upgrade arrives.

100% open source, contribute today:https://t.co/V0nj8UoHDF pic.twitter.com/fhKDeCKnMc

— Bitcoin Quantum (@btc_quantum) January 12, 2026

Bitcoin’s price barely moved, up just +1.5% today and trading just above $92,000, indicating that traders view this as a long-term issue rather than an emergency.

Still, as governments and banks prep for a post-quantum world, this topic keeps creeping closer to everyday holders of BTC and the broader digital asset offerings.

To avoid fear-mongering, we must state that your crypto is not about to be hacked tomorrow, but this story is important because Bitcoin’s promise rests on cryptography, and quantum computing targets that foundation.

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What Is the Quantum Threat Everyone Keeps Talking About?

Bitcoin security relies on digital signatures. Think of your private key like a secret PIN that proves you own your coins. Today’s computers can’t reverse-engineer that PIN from your public address in any realistic timeframe.

Quantum computers change that math. According to an April 2025 Forbes article, a mature quantum computer could eventually quickly crack Bitcoin’s current signature system. That’s why agencies like NIST and Europol already push banks to prepare years in advance.

BTQ’s answer is “Bitcoin Quantum,” a permissionless test network that swaps today’s signatures for quantum-resistant ones. It uses a NIST-approved algorithm called Dilithium, which is already part of new global security standards.

Quantum computing is becoming a reality & it changes the long-term security model for crypto.

Quantum computers change how cryptography can be broken
Wallet safety depends on signatures
Quantum resistance is now a priority

Here's what this means & why it matters pic.twitter.com/w3ZpjzMDH1

— House of Chimera (@HouseofChimera) January 12, 2026

Why This Testnet Matters for Everyday Bitcoin Users

This isn’t about new flashy coins or 100x moonshots. It’s about whether Bitcoin can still protect ownership 20 years from now. If signatures fail, ownership fails. That’s the nightmare scenario, and BTQ is the first mover in an attempt to combat this.

The positive right now is that you don’t need a quantum computer to stop a quantum computer. Early BTQ proofs of concept show that these defenses can run on standard hardware today. However, the tradeoff is cost. Post-quantum signatures are more than 200 times larger, which slows networks and increases fees.

This is why Bitcoin hasn’t upgraded yet. Changes like this require broad consensus and often involve a hard fork, which splits the network. The history of Bitcoin shows how controversial it can be, with forks that led to Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and other fractured versions of BTC.

BTQ Technologies Corp is the NASDAQ-traded firm behind the Bitcoin Quantum project, and its BTQ share price finished yesterday’s trading session up +10% and is up +129% in the past 12 months. The strength of its stock highlights a growing appetite for companies focused on quantum-resistant technology.

(SOURCE: Yahoo Finance)

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Why Bitcoin Isn’t in Immediate Danger and Why BTQ is a Long-Term Play

No quantum computer today can crack Bitcoin. Even Google says its latest chips can’t break modern cryptography. According to Reuters, the timeline is closer to a decade or thereabouts.

Bitcoin developers are already working on gradual paths, such as quantum-resistant address types. That allows users to move funds before any real threat appears. This is slow by design. Slow is safe in Bitcoin.

For holders, the takeaway is simple. Use modern wallets. Move coins periodically to avoid leaving them on old, exposed addresses. This is basic Bitcoin security, as we have covered extensively in our Bitcoin beginners’ guide.

The BTQ testnet won’t move markets today, but it is one of the only publicly traded companies taking the issue seriously and planning for the future. It highlights that Bitcoin will face significant upgrade challenges over the next decade if it wants to avoid being completely disrupted by quantum computing.

Quantum resistance is now a planning problem, not a crisis. And Bitcoin, slow and stubborn as ever, is already part of a very large share of that conversation and, alongside legacy banking, represents a huge quantum computing headache.

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