Nine crypto companies today formed the Quantum Alliance, with whether to freeze vulnerable assets becoming the core controversy.

BlockBeats news, October 16: The Quantum Alliance, composed of nine crypto companies, was established today. Publicly listed members include security firm Hacken, Charles Hoskinson's Midnight Foundation, quantum-resistant Layer 1 blockchain Quantus, and Postquant Labs, with the remaining members not yet individually disclosed. The alliance will develop common security standards for blockchains such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. It estimates that approximately 6.4 million BTC (30.2% of the total supply) have exposed public keys, including about 1.1 million attributed to Satoshi Nakamoto, but existing quantum computers are not yet capable of stealing these assets.

Within the Quantum Alliance, there are clear disagreements over the threat timeline and response approaches. The Vault Chief Revenue Officer Bryn Bennett said no one knows the exact date, but estimates keep moving earlier; Postquant Labs Chief Technology Officer Richard Carback believes 2028 is the realistic time point.

Whether to freeze vulnerable assets has become the core controversy. Carback leans toward migration rather than freezing, while Bennett pointed out that freezing is a governance decision for the Bitcoin network, and any freeze would set a precedent of trading property rights and neutrality for quantum risk. Previously, CZ suggested freezing Satoshi Nakamoto's Bitcoin, and developer Jameson Lopp also proposed restricting vulnerable tokens, but critics argue this violates Bitcoin's promise of being unable to be confiscated. In the future, the alliance plans to release common security testing and migration guidelines.