blockchainsecurity

Bitcoin developers have achieved a significant milestone in protecting the network against future quantum computing threats. An updated version of Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP) 360 has been merged into the official Bitcoin BIP GitHub repository, introducing Pay-to-Merkle-Root (P2MR) as a quantum-resistant alternative to existing transaction types.
According to Anduro on X, "Bitcoin just made a meaningful step toward future quantum resistance. An updated version of BIP 360 has just been merged into the official Bitcoin BIP GitHub repository."
The proposal addresses growing concerns about Cryptographically Relevant Quantum Computers (CRQCs) potentially breaking the elliptic curve cryptography that secures Bitcoin transactions. While quantum computers capable of threatening Bitcoin don't exist yet, governments and corporations worldwide are already preparing for this possibility.
What P2MR Changes for Bitcoin Security
P2MR operates similarly to Pay-to-Taproot (P2TR) outputs but removes the quantum-vulnerable key-path spend while preserving compatibility with Tapscript and script trees. This modification specifically protects against "long exposure attacks"—scenarios where attackers have extended time periods to perform quantum key recovery on exposed blockchain data.
The updated BIP 360 specification outlines a conservative first step in hardening Bitcoin against quantum threats. The change implements a soft fork that doesn't affect existing Taproot outputs, ensuring backward compatibility across the network.
Understanding Long vs Short Exposure Attacks
Long exposure attacks target public keys already visible on the blockchain, giving attackers ample time to execute quantum key recovery. Current output types like P2PKH and P2SH remain safe against such attacks, but Taproot outputs starting with "bc1p" are vulnerable.
Short exposure attacks require significantly faster quantum computers since they must occur within the brief window when transactions sit unconfirmed in the mempool. Full protection against these attacks may require future integration of post-quantum signature schemes.
P2MR outputs, identifiable by their "bc1z" prefix, offer protection against long exposure attacks while maintaining support for Tapscript—a critical feature for potentially implementing post-quantum signature opcodes down the line.
Development Team and Community Response
Isabel Foxen Duke joined as co-author to ensure the BIP remains accessible beyond just the developer community. The proposal directly addresses criticism about Bitcoin developers allegedly not taking quantum threats seriously enough.
As stated in the BIP documentation, "We believe users' fear of quantum computers may be worth addressing regardless of CRQC viability."
The Commercial National Security Algorithm Suite (CNSA) 2.0 has already mandated software and networking equipment upgrades to post-quantum schemes by 2030, with browsers and operating systems requiring full upgrades by 2033. NIST IR 8547 plans to disallow Elliptic Curve Cryptography within US federal government systems after 2035, except for hybrid cryptography approaches.
Technical Implementation Details
P2MR outputs commit to the Merkle root of a script tree without committing to an internal key. The construction follows BIP 341's process for computing the final tapbranch hash but omits Taproot's internal key tweaking mechanism.
This design minimizes network changes by reusing existing Bitcoin code while creating the safest possible path for adding post-quantum signature integrations if needed in the future. Wallets, exchanges, and libraries can leverage their existing P2TR infrastructure, reducing implementation complexity.
The witness structure includes initial stack elements, leaf script, and a control block containing the Merkle path. Unlike P2TR, the public key is omitted from the control block since P2MR doesn't support key-path spending.
What This Means for Bitcoin Users
Current Bitcoin holders don't need immediate action since existing outputs remain unaffected. However, users concerned about long-term quantum threats now have an opt-in solution for enhanced protection.
The development team emphasized: "We are grateful to every Bitcoin contributor who took the time to review and provide feedback."
The proposal represents a measured response—implementing quantum resistance features gradually as the threat landscape evolves rather than imposing heavy-handed changes while CRQCs remain theoretical.
P2MR establishes groundwork for introducing post-quantum signatures while using Tapscript and script trees for spend-time optionality. This forward-thinking approach positions Bitcoin to adapt as quantum computing technology advances without requiring disruptive protocol changes.
Keywords: 3 Key Takeaways:
BIP 360 introduces P2MR outputs protecting Bitcoin from quantum long exposure attacksSoft fork maintains backward compatibility while adding opt-in quantum resistanceFoundation laid for future post-quantum signature implementation in Bitcoin protocol
#Bitcoin #QuantumComputing #BIP360 #Cryptography #BlockchainSecurity

This Article First Appeared on: https://www.cryptonewslive.org/article/bitcoin-takes-major-leap-toward-quantum-attack-protection

Formal verification mathematically proves code correctness before deployment, while bug bounties catch vulnerabilities after code is written. Both have merits - formal verification prevents errors at the source, but requires significant upfront investment. Bug bounties are cost-effective but react to problems post-deployment. OpenZeppelin's audited contracts show 99.5% fewer critical vulnerabilities compared to unaudited code. However, even audited contracts can have exploits - remember the Cream Finance flash loan attack that bypassed multiple audits? Multi-signature wallets require multiple approvals for transactions, reducing single-point-of-failure risks. Yet they slow down operations - Yearn Finance's governance multisig once took 24 hours to approve an emergency fix during a critical vulnerability. Automated testing catches 70-80% of common vulnerabilities through unit tests and integration tests. But sophisticated attacks like reentrancy bugs often slip through - as seen in the DAO hack that exploited a subtle recursive call vulnerability.

#DeFiSecurity #SmartContractAudit #BlockchainSecurity #CryptoSafety

How "Oracles" prevent price manipulation

Ever wonder how your favorite crypto project knows the exact price of Bitcoin if it lives on a totally different blockchain?
It's not magic, and without a special helper, the whole system could be totally gamed! 🫣

We rely on accurate price data for everything in crypto, from lending to derivatives.
Imagine you're playing a game, and the score needs to be pulled from an official, real-world sports match.
If everyone just 'said' the score, someone could totally cheat, right? 🙅‍♀️ In crypto, dApps need real-world info - like the price of ETH or BTC - that exists outside their blockchain.
Blockchains are super secure but can't see the outside world on their own.
This is where 'oracles' step in, acting like those trusted, independent scorekeepers. They fetch data from many places, verify it, and feed it to the blockchain.
But, if an oracle only pulled data from one source, or if that source was biased, someone could easily manipulate that single data point, making the entire dApp think a crypto was worth something it wasn't. Scary, right? 😨
Therefore, to prevent this nightmare of price manipulation, reliable oracles don't just use one source.
They collect data from dozens of independent data providers and aggregate it securely, cross-referencing to find the true, fair market price.
Think of it like a jury, not just one witness! 🧑‍⚖️ This multi-source approach makes it incredibly difficult for any single bad actor to trick the system.
It builds a robust 'truth layer' between the real world and our dApps, giving us peace of mind that the prices we see and use for our trades and loans are actually legitimate.
So, the next time you see a DeFi protocol using external data, you'll know there's a powerful network of oracles working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep things honest and secure. Pretty neat, huh? ✨

#CryptoDaily #Oracles #DeFi #HowItWorks #BlockchainSecurity
- Disclaimer: Sharing knowledge and insights as part of learning and growing together. For educational purposes only, not financial advice.

🚀 TRM Labs Reaches $1 Billion Valuation After Major Funding Round
Recent crypto community updates confirm that TRM Labs has reached a 1 billion USD valuation following a 70 million USD funding round led by prominent blockchain-focused investors. This milestone highlights growing confidence in crypto security, compliance, and blockchain analytics infrastructure.
TRM Labs specializes in risk intelligence, fraud detection, and transaction monitoring tools that are widely used by exchanges, financial institutions, and regulators to secure digital asset activity.
📊 Why This Milestone Matters
This valuation reflects several important industry trends:
📌 Rising institutional demand for compliance tools
As digital asset markets expand, institutions increasingly require advanced monitoring and risk management solutions.
📌 Security is becoming core infrastructure
Blockchain analytics and fraud prevention are no longer optional but essential components of a scalable crypto ecosystem.
📌 Investor focus is shifting beyond token prices
Capital is flowing into companies that support long-term market stability, transparency, and regulatory alignment.
Together, these factors signal a maturing crypto market with stronger foundational layers.
🧠 What This Means for You
For market participants at all levels:
Institutional adoption depends heavily on reliable security and compliance frameworksInfrastructure companies play a key role in shaping the future of crypto marketsGrowth in this sector suggests continued professionalization of the industry
Developments like this often indicate long-term confidence rather than short-term speculation.
🔥 Hashtags
#TRMLabs
#CryptoInfrastructure
#BlockchainSecurity
#CryptoAnalytics
#BinanceSquare

In the world of digital assets, where money moves at unimaginable speeds, and the complexities of cyber attacks increase, security is no longer an additional option, but the foundation upon which everything is built.
Among all global trading platforms, Binance has emerged as a unique model that proves investing in security is a direct investment in user trust and platform sustainability.