Quantum computing is no longer a distant concept, but is beginning to emerge as a real risk to Bitcoin’s security. A report published by Google on March 30 suggests that in a future scenario, a quantum machine could be able to derive a wallet’s private key in about nine minutes. Although this is a theoretical prediction and not current production capacity, this notice is already sounding the alarm in the industry.
Given such a panorama, the competition is no longer just a race against hackers, but also a race against time. Manufacturers and developers are beginning to consider quantum-proof solutions, ranging from new cryptography to hybrid models, as they await updates to the Bitcoin protocol. In this analysis, we review which wallets are preparing for that scenario, and how far along they actually are.
safety
For the first time, Trezor has launched an explicit quantum-ready statement with its latest model, the Trezor Safe 7.
This wallet incorporates post-quantum cryptography into its internal architecture, However, this is not the case with Bitcoin transaction signatures. Operations continue on the network using protocols defined algorithms such as ECDSA and Schnorr.
Quantum protection for this device is applied to other critical layers such as firmware verification and hardware reliability using resilient schemes such as SLH-DSA (based on hash functions) and ML-DSA. This ensures that the software running your wallet remains unchanged and your device is ready, even in the face of advanced threats. In preparation for future updates when Bitcoin adopts post-quantum cryptographic standards.
block stream
Unlike Trezor, Blockstream has chosen a more experimental and direct approach. In other words, we will be testing post-quantum cryptography in a functional environment thanks to the Liquid Network, a Bitcoin sidechain that allows us to implement new technologies without changing the main network.
Within this environment, the use of the Simplicity contract language opens the door to the integration of signature schemes that are resistant to quantum attacks. This turns Liquid into a laboratory of sorts You can now perform post-quantum cryptographically secured transactionssomething that doesn’t yet exist in Bitcoin itself.
On March 30, Blockstream Research proposed SHRIMPS, a quantum computer-resistant digital signature scheme for Bitcoin transactions. It replaces the ECDSA algorithm, works on multiple devices, and produces a 2,564-byte signature with 128-bit security. This is three times more compact than SLH-DSA (7,872 bytes).
but, These advancements are not integrated as standard features in Blockstream Jade wallets. Rather, they are part of an experimental environment within the ecosystem developed by the company.
cold card and passport prime
Foundation Devices has taken an aggressive approach with its Passport Prime wallet. The company has discontinued its previous Passport Core model and launched a new device with the QuantumLink protocol. This protocol uses the standardized NIST algorithm CRYSTALS-Kyber for key encapsulation and combines it with ChaCha20-Poly1305 for message encryption.
The company explained in a statement that the implementation is applied to the Bluetooth communication layer and only receives data that is already encrypted, and the security processor does not expose unencrypted information. In this sense, the company emphasizes that “Passport Prime is built for what’s to come,” positioning it as a concrete response to the “Store-now-decrypt-later” (SNDL) threat without changing Bitcoin signatures, which remain based on ECC.
on the contrary, Coinkite, which is responsible for the Coldcard line, has not announced any specific support. There is also no post-quantum cryptography roadmap in that model (Mk4, Q, or the recent Mk5). Its philosophy continues to focus on maximum simplicity, total air gap with MicroSD, NFC or QR, and auditable open source firmware with dual secure elements.
In a 2023 statement, the company described quantum risk as a distant “boogeyman” and argued that in the event of a black swan event, the Bitcoin network itself could adapt through rollbacks and consensus enforcement.
Although Coldcard Mk5’s marketing includes phrases like “The wonders of Quantum Bitcoin,” these only refer to general hardware improvements and not the integration of PQC algorithms such as Kyber, Dilithium, or SPHINCS+.
ledger
Another well-known company is Ledger. Its security lab, known as Donjon, tests post-quantum cryptographic algorithms directly on the secure elements of its devices, evaluating their behavior in real-world conditions on limited hardware.
Tests include schemes such as ML-DSA (based on lattice networks) and Falcon, both of which were selected within the NIST standardization process and are intended to measure viability in environments similar to those used in hardware wallets.
However, like Blockstream Jade, Ledger is in an experimental stage and the features being considered are not integrated into the wallet.
Finally, “quieter” movements are happening outside of wallets as well. The arrival of Android 17, developed by Google, marks a turning point by incorporating post-quantum cryptography at the operating system level. This version incorporates algorithms such as digital signatures, boot protection (verified boot), secure key storage in a keystore, and ML-DSA to enhance app validation, creating a security chain from hardware to software. This could lead to the emergence of mobile wallets with post-quantum protection in the future.
The transition to the post-quantum era is thus emerging as a gradual and hierarchical process. Although the Bitcoin protocol has not yet determined its direction, the industry is progressing in parallel with partial, experimental, or defensive solutions.
