E52: Bitcoin’s Quantum Defense, Led by Hunter Beast

Hunter Beast joins the ATX DAO Podcast to unpack BIP 360, his bold proposal to protect Bitcoin from the looming risks of quantum computing. As quantum breakthroughs accelerate, many coins—including Satoshi’s—could be vulnerable to signature forgery and theft. Hunter breaks down how BIP 360 introduces a new quantum-resistant address type (P2QRH), offering a soft fork solution that empowers users to future-proof their coins without disrupting Bitcoin’s foundational principles.

We dive into the technical challenges, the cultural tension between Bitcoin and Ethereum’s approach to upgrades, and why this work may define the next era of Bitcoin security. From spook-funded research to the ethics of chain rollbacks, this episode goes deep on the stakes, the timeline, and how Hunter’s work could shape Bitcoin’s survival in a post-quantum world.