As concerns over the future impact of quantum computing continue to grow, cybersecurity firm AmericanFortress has introduced a new proposal aimed at protecting cryptocurrency wallets without requiring users to move their assets or create new wallet addresses.
The proposed system, called Zero-Knowledge Proof of Seed Provenance (ZK-PoSP), is designed to provide post-quantum security for major blockchain networks such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. While the concept offers an innovative approach to safeguarding digital assets, it remains an early-stage proposal that would require broad industry adoption before becoming a reality.
ZK-PoSP protects wallets without changing addresses
Traditional quantum-resistant upgrades often require users to transfer funds into newly generated wallet addresses using different cryptographic standards.
AmericanFortress aims to eliminate that process.
Instead, its proposed ZK-PoSP system allows wallet owners to prove they possess the original seed phrase used to generate a wallet without revealing the seed itself.
The verification is performed using zero-knowledge proofs, enabling transactions to be authorized securely while preserving existing wallet addresses.
According to the company, this means users would not need to:
- Move their crypto holdings
- Rotate private keys
- Generate new wallet addresses
The proposal is intended to work alongside current digital signature systems before eventually replacing traditional signatures if quantum computers become capable of breaking existing cryptography.
Designed for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana
The proposal targets several of the industry’s largest blockchain ecosystems.
It supports cryptographic standards currently used by:
- Bitcoin, which relies on the secp256k1 elliptic curve.
- Ethereum, which also uses secp256k1.
- Solana, which primarily utilizes Ed25519 signatures.
The system is also compatible with widely adopted hierarchical deterministic wallet standards, including BIP32 and SLIP-10, allowing existing wallet infrastructure to remain largely unchanged.
Quantum threat remains a future concern
Although quantum computing continues to advance, today’s machines are not yet capable of breaking modern blockchain encryption.
Powerful future quantum computers could theoretically use Shor’s algorithm to derive private keys from exposed public keys, potentially compromising wallets protected by current elliptic curve cryptography.
However, recent estimates from Google’s Quantum AI researchers suggest that attacking 256-bit elliptic curve cryptography would require approximately 1,500 logical qubits and tens of millions of quantum operations—technology that does not currently exist.
As a result, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other major cryptocurrencies are not facing an immediate quantum security threat, although researchers continue preparing for long-term risks.
Network upgrades would still be required
Despite preserving existing wallet addresses, ZK-PoSP cannot simply be added to current blockchain networks.
The proposal would require:
- Node software upgrades
- Wallet software capable of generating zero-knowledge proofs
- Network-wide adoption by developers, miners, validators, and node operators
Until blockchain networks formally adopt and enforce these verification rules, wallets with publicly exposed keys would remain vulnerable to future quantum attacks if such technology eventually becomes practical.
Verification costs remain relatively low
AmericanFortress believes the system can operate efficiently.
According to the company’s internal testing:
- Creating a one-time wallet proof costs approximately $0.002 on a 16-core server.
- Each transaction proof costs roughly $0.00125.
- Signing currently takes around 12 seconds.
- Verification completes in approximately 9–10 milliseconds.
These figures come from laboratory testing rather than live blockchain deployments, meaning real-world implementation could involve additional infrastructure and operational costs.
The company also noted that future software improvements and hardware acceleration could significantly reduce transaction signing times.
Industry increases focus on post-quantum security
AmericanFortress’s proposal arrives amid growing industry attention on quantum-resistant blockchain technology.
Recently, Strategy, BlackRock, Coinbase, and several other companies launched the Bitcoin Security Consortium, committing $15 million over the next three years to support post-quantum research.
Meanwhile, the Ethereum Foundation has established its own dedicated quantum security initiative, exploring alternative signature schemes, zero-knowledge technologies, and migration tools for future protocol upgrades.
These parallel efforts demonstrate that major blockchain organizations are increasingly preparing for a future in which quantum computing may become a practical security concern.
Outlook
AmericanFortress’s ZK-PoSP proposal introduces an interesting approach to post-quantum wallet security by allowing cryptocurrency holders to keep their existing wallet addresses while replacing traditional signature verification with zero-knowledge proofs.
However, the proposal remains theoretical and will require extensive peer review, security audits, and widespread support from blockchain communities before it could be implemented on major networks.
As quantum computing research continues advancing, solutions like ZK-PoSP are likely to become an increasingly important part of discussions surrounding the long-term security of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and other blockchain ecosystems.
