Marathon Digital Holdings mined the first known quantum-safe transaction on the Bitcoin mainnet on August 26. The transaction utilized a method developed by StarkWare researcher Avihu Levy. This method aims to protect against potential future quantum computer threats without altering Bitcoin's core consensus rules.
MARA processed the transaction through its private Slipstream service. This method involves wrapping transactions with hash-based Lamport signatures and a proof-of-work puzzle.
The process represents a notable technical milestone, demonstrating proactive security measures for the blockchain. However, the process is currently non-standard. It is computationally intensive. The method is also more costly than typical transactions.
On August 28, MARA's stock was down 1.26% in pre-market trading. This occurred amidst a broader decline in crypto-related equities. Bitcoin's price saw a modest dip.