What happens to Satoshi's BTC when Bitcoin's quantum problem is fixed?

A Coinbase-convened advisory board of leading cryptographers says quantum computers are not a threat to blockchains today but urges the Bitcoin community to begin technical planning for post-quantum signatures now. The board includes Scott Aaronson, Dan Boneh and Justin Drake and starts from the premise that nobody knows when quantum breaks will arrive, so the debate should not hinge on timing.

The exposure is concentrated in Bitcoin. Roughly 6.7 million bitcoin are considered vulnerable to a future quantum attack: about 1.7 million sit in roughly 20,000 early pay-to-public-key addresses likely tied to Satoshi Nakamoto and other lost keys, and another roughly 5 million are exposed through address reuse, most thought to be held in exchange wallets.

Swapping in quantum-resistant signatures is comparatively straightforward. The harder question is what to do about coins that can never be moved today.

bitcoin, quantum computers, post-quantum signatures, coinbase, satoshi nakamoto, pay-to-public-key, address reuse, exchange wallets, scott aaronson, dan boneh