Developers from QuFi Network have introduced a post-quantum verification platform designed to protect digital assets from potential attacks by quantum computers. A key feature of the solution is that there is no need to modify existing blockchain networks. The Bitcoin Testnet4 testnet served as the demonstration venue.
Architectural approach: verification off-chain
QuFi's main innovation lies in separating the transaction verification process from its direct execution. The platform relies on a network of independent nodes that perform cryptographic validation before funds are moved. After successful verification, only a compact proof is transmitted to the blockchain, rather than the full volume of data.
This design relieves each individual blockchain of the need to handle the increased computational loads and data volumes that would inevitably arise from the direct implementation of post-quantum algorithms. The protection is based on three standards developed under the initiative of the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology: ML-DSA-65 for digital signatures, SLH-DSA as a backup hash-based scheme, and ML-KEM-1024 for secure key exchange.
Practical test on Bitcoin
To test the concept, the company created uBTC — a prototype that confirms the presence of BTC as collateral and generates cryptographic proofs for subsequent value transfer. The full lifecycle of uBTC, including issuance, burning, and redemption, operates on Bitcoin Testnet4. Upon redemption, funds are sent via a standard Bitcoin transaction that can be independently verified on the network, while the underlying protocol of the first cryptocurrency remains untouched.
This fundamentally differs from the strategy of embedding post-quantum algorithms directly into the blockchain. Since the sizes of such signatures can significantly exceed traditional ones, their integration at the protocol level would require increased storage, bandwidth, and computational requirements.
Limitations and further plans
It is important to emphasize that it is premature to talk about full-fledged post-quantum protection for Bitcoin. The demonstrated system operates exclusively in a test environment. QuFi has already announced plans to expand the solution to EVM-compatible networks, Stellar, and Solana. In parallel, a Genesis Node program has been opened for operators who will support the decentralized verification network. In the future, the company intends to use a unified verification layer for multiple blockchains and financial systems.
Recall that in August, StarkWare already conducted a transaction resistant to quantum attacks on the Bitcoin mainnet, confirming the growing interest in this direction.
My analysis: the approach proposed by QuFi looks pragmatic, as it allows for increased resilience without painful hard forks. However, the key question remains open — whether a decentralized verification network can provide a sufficient level of trust and performance across the entire industry, especially considering that a testnet is only the first, albeit important, step.