Bitcoin Debates Quantum Fix: STARK Proofs or Bigger Blocks

On July 9, 2026, fresh commentary renewed focus on Bitcoin’s post-quantum security challenge. Experts warn that NIST-approved signatures 10-100 times larger than today’s ECDSA/Schnorr keys could slash throughput to roughly 500-700 transactions per block. StarkWare co-founder Eli Ben-Sasson advocates ZK-STARK aggregation, potentially enabled by OP_CAT or new opcodes, as the route that preserves decentralization. The alternative—simply raising the block-size limit—revives unresolved governance tensions dating back to the 2017 split. With Ethereum already targeting post-quantum readiness by 2029 and StarkWare launching a three-phase project last week, the market narrative centers on Bitcoin’s long-term protocol durability rather than any immediate price catalyst.