Bitcoin Proposal Sparks Debate Over Quantum-Resistant Addresses

Blockchain News: A proposal to protect Bitcoin from quantum computers could freeze non-compliant coins. Meanwhile, AI agents are increasingly handling crypto payments, but their infrastructure may be vulnerable. CoW Swap suffered a DNS hijacking incident, and the XRP Ledger now supports zero-knowledge proofs for private transactions. Bitcoin's developer community is considering a plan to migrate coins to quantum-resistant addresses, which could render non-compliant coins unusable. Jameson Loop and other cryptographers have put forth the proposal, known as Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP)-361, in response to warnings that a sufficiently powerful quantum computer could compromise the Bitcoin blockchain. Separately, research has highlighted the potential security risks of AI agents handling crypto payments, as they often rely on intermediary services that can access sensitive data. CoW Swap, a decentralized trading interface, temporarily halted its services after detecting a DNS hijacking incident affecting its website. The XRP Ledger has integrated with Boundless, a zero-knowledge proving network, to enable private transactions on the public blockchain. This move is expected to facilitate institutional adoption by allowing financial institutions to transact privately while meeting regulatory requirements.