Bitcoin’s quantum-resistant hard fork is inevitable — It’s the only chance to fix node incentives

A quantum-resistant Bitcoin upgrade is inevitable, but ignoring full node incentives could accelerate centralization. Fixing this flaw now is the only way to secure Bitcoin’s future.

Opinion by: Dr. Michael Tabone, senior economist for Cointelegraph

Bitcoin (BTC) has long been hailed as unbreakable and untouchable, a digital stronghold against the forces of change. Bitcoin’s bedrock of security is facing its first true test with quantum computing, which should be addressed sooner rather than later. Its cryptographic armor will crack if not addressed, forcing the network to adapt or perish.

Bitcoin’s full node network has grown over time, a sign of increasing adoption and a more robust infrastructure, but the core issue remains. The voluntary act of running a node still has no financial incentive. Miners earn rewards for securing the network, yet full node operators get nothing for their role in keeping Bitcoin decentralized.

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