tl;dr
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino is considering a quantum computing initiative to recover lost Bitcoin, proposed by investor Brad Mills. While Ardoino sees potential in the idea, he emphasizes the need for transparent leadership and ethical oversight. He also suggests Bitcoiners could contribute Satoshis to...
Tether CEO Considers Quantum Computing Initiative to Recover Lost Bitcoin Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino is considering a quantum computing initiative to recover lost Bitcoin, as proposed by investor Brad Mills. While Ardoino sees potential in the idea, he emphasizes the need for transparent leadership and ethical oversight. He also suggests Bitcoiners could contribute Satoshis to fund open-source development. Ardoino asserts that quantum computing is not an immediate threat to Bitcoin's security and believes Bitcoin will adopt quantum-resistant solutions before any serious risks arise. However, he acknowledges the potential for quantum computing to access inactive Bitcoin wallets, including those of deceased users and possibly Satoshi Nakamoto's. Despite this, Ardoino maintains that quantum advancements will not alter Bitcoin's 21 million supply cap.
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino has shown interest in a proposal for a quantum-powered initiative aimed at retrieving lost Bitcoin. The idea, originally put forward by Bitcoin investor Brad Mills, suggests launching a white-hat treasure hunt to locate an estimated 3.7 million BTC that have vanished from circulation. Ardoino acknowledged the concept’s potential but emphasized the need for transparent leadership. While he believes quantum computing is not yet advanced enough to execute such an operation, he stressed the importance of ethical oversight if the initiative ever takes shape. He also floated the idea of Bitcoiners contributing Satoshis in exchange for a share of any Bitcoin recovered through future quantum breakthroughs. However, he insisted that most of the proceeds should fund Bitcoin’s open-source development for the long haul.
These discussions follow Ardoino’s recent comments dismissing quantum computing as an immediate threat to Bitcoin. Over the weekend, Ardoino assured the community that Bitcoin’s cryptographic security remains intact despite growing concerns about quantum computing. The Tether CEO argued that the technology is still far from reaching a level where it could compromise Bitcoin’s security. Moreover, he expressed confidence that Bitcoin would adopt quantum-resistant solutions before any risks become serious.
However, Ardoino conceded that if quantum computing progresses significantly, it could lead to the recovery of Bitcoin locked in inactive wallets. This includes holdings that belonged to deceased users or individuals who lost their private keys. He suggested that even Satoshi Nakamoto’s wallets—estimated to contain around 1.2 million BTC—could be accessed under such conditions. Despite these hypothetical scenarios, Ardoino reaffirmed Bitcoin’s resilience. He insisted that quantum advancements would not change the network’s 21 million supply cap.