Muneeb Ali says Bitcoin has about two years to start its post-quantum upgrade
Muneeb Ali, Stacks co-founder, stated at Token2049 Singapore that Bitcoin has about two years to upgrade to quantum-resistant signatures, followed by two more years for migration. According to NIST, vulnerable schemes like ECDSA should be phased out by 2035. Ali warned that this upgrade could reduce Bitcoin's transaction capacity to 10% of current levels. Stacks Labs plans to build a post-quantum layer, with Ali returning as CEO on October 15, 2026.
How this was made
The 30-second read
Why it matters
The announcement could spur short‑term volatility in Bitcoin and related assets as traders assess the risk of reduced on‑chain throughput.
Market read
A new timeline for Bitcoin's quantum upgrade may affect transaction capacity, fee dynamics, and demand for layer‑2 solutions.
What to watch
Potential regulatory responses to quantum risks and the speed of developer adoption are uncertain.
Background
Quantum‑computing threats to ECDSA signatures have been discussed for years; this is the first public timeline from a Bitcoin‑related founder.
Ticker impact
Muneeb Ali announced at Token2049 that Bitcoin has roughly two years to adopt quantum‑resistant signatures and another two years for users to migrate.
likely pressure as market prices in the risk of capacity loss and migration uncertainty
The announced timeline suggests a near‑term technical constraint that may affect transaction demand and fee revenue.
Market effects
Layer‑2 and sidechain projects may see increased demand as Bitcoin's base‑layer capacity is projected to drop.
Global crypto markets could react to perceived technical risk, especially in regions with high Bitcoin trading volumes.
The timeline influences the broader digital asset ecosystem and could affect crypto‑related equities.
Counterpoint
The capacity reduction may be overstated; off‑chain solutions could mitigate impact without major price moves.
Key entities
- personMuneeb Ali
Co‑founder of Stacks, speaking at Token2049.
- companyStacks Labs
Developing a post‑quantum layer for Bitcoin.
