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BTC $96,420 +2.34% ETH $3,280 +1.82% SOL $185.40 -0.92% BNB $642.50 +0.45% XRP $2.18 +3.12% DOGE $0.082 -1.50% ADA $1.05 +0.80% AVAX $42.10 +1.15%
09/24/2026

First Quantum-Resistant Protocol Goes Live on Bitcoin Lightning Network

What happened: Researchers at East Texas A&M University have released the Post-Quantum Lightning Network (PQLN), adding lattice-based cryptography (ML-DSA and ML-KEM) to a fork of rust-lightning.

First Quantum-Resistant Protocol Goes Live on Bitcoin Lightning Network

What happened: Researchers at East Texas A&M University have released the Post-Quantum Lightning Network (PQLN), adding lattice-based cryptography (ML-DSA and ML-KEM) to a fork of rust-lightning. The implementation, published on September 12, covers multiple Lightning BOLTs and aims to defend against "harvest now, decrypt later" attacks that could exploit future quantum computers. However, PQLN does not protect on-chain or channel funds, as post-quantum security at the base layer would require a consensus upgrade.

Why it matters: This marks the first live deployment of quantum-resistant cryptography on any Bitcoin-related protocol, addressing a long-standing concern about quantum threats to blockchain security. While the upgrade currently secures only Lightning Network communications and routing, it represents a step toward future-proofing Bitcoin's infrastructure. The impact on price remains speculative, as the base layer remains unchanged and consensus-level upgrades are not imminent.

Source: Crypto Briefing