A new security technology has been proposed that could prepare for future quantum-computer attacks without changing the addresses of existing cryptocurrency wallets or moving assets. The approach adds post-quantum security while keeping the existing wallet systems used by Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana, drawing attention over whether it can reduce the burden of large-scale wallet migrations.

Cointelegraph reported on July 28 that blockchain security firm American Fortress unveiled an encryption structure that can add post-quantum protection without replacing existing wallet keys or moving funds.

The core of the proposal is to keep as-is the elliptic-curve cryptography-based wallets currently used by Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana. Unlike typical post-quantum migration methods that require transferring assets to new addresses and wallets, the approach adds a quantum-security layer while preserving existing wallet addresses.

The company published a technical paper on the Cryptology ePrint Archive, a repository for cryptography papers. The paper said it is compatible not only with Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana but also with seed phrase-based hierarchical deterministic wallets. The research has not yet undergone peer review.

The technical method also differs from existing approaches. Instead of replacing elliptic-curve cryptography itself, it builds an additional security layer using a zero-knowledge proof generated from an existing seed phrase. Network participants verify the proof, while users continue to sign transactions with their existing private keys.

American Fortress said it designed the approach to prepare for future quantum-computer attacks without fundamentally changing existing wallet structures.

The company also cited a Bloomberg analysis as an example of quantum-computer risks. The analysis estimated that if a sufficiently capable quantum computer emerges, up to $470 billion worth of bitcoin could be exposed to attack.

Competition to develop post-quantum wallets is also accelerating. Freedom Factory on the same day unveiled PQ1, a post-quantum hardware wallet for Ethereum and Ethereum Virtual Machine-based networks.

While American Fortress presented a software-based protection method, PQ1 uses post-quantum cryptographic signatures generated on dedicated hardware. Freedom Factory said it can protect transactions from future quantum attacks by combining the SPHINCS+C10 signature algorithm with ERC-4337 smart accounts.

The backdrop to the active development of such technologies is concern that the cryptographic systems used by major blockchains today could be neutralised over the long term by quantum computers. No quantum computer capable of cracking current cryptography has yet emerged, but the industry is already accelerating efforts to prepare response strategies.

More recently, a consortium led by Strategy decided to provide $15 million in support for bitcoin quantum-security research, and the Ethereum Foundation is reviewing a plan to migrate accounts to a quantum-resistant cryptographic system. Algorand also announced plans to introduce quantum-resistant accounts by 2027.

In the market, some assessments say the proposal is meaningful because it could strengthen security without wallet migrations or address changes. If a protection layer can be added while keeping existing wallets, it could significantly reduce transition costs and user burdens for large blockchains such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana.

Still, the technology has not undergone peer review in academia, and its actual security, feasibility of implementation and whether network participants accept it are expected to be key variables for future commercialisation.