Bitcoin developers have begun deploying a code-upgrade mechanism first proposed by Satoshi Nakamoto 16 years ago, designed to protect the network from quantum computing threats. The upgrade, which rolled out this week, allows the network to switch to quantum-resistant cryptography without a disruptive hard fork. The deployment is the first time the mechanism has been used for its intended purpose.
The 16-year-old blueprint
Satoshi Nakamoto first described the code-upgrade mechanism in Bitcoin's early days, specifically to address the potential threat of quantum computers. That was 16 years ago. Now, developers are putting that plan into action. The mechanism allows the network to upgrade its
