The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a governmental agency created in 1901 and currently relies on the country’s Department of Commerce.
According to its website, its declared mission is to “promote the competitiveness of US innovation and industry UU. To improve economic safety and quality of life through advances in measurement science, standards and technological advances.”
This role is also at the heart of the discussion. Quantum computing and the challenges it brings to modern encryptionIncludes those that protect Bitcoin.
This same scenario applies to most of today’s digital security systems, from encrypted email to bank transfers.
Beyond global cybersecurity, NIST has been integrated One of the oldest physical science research institutes As a global reference to technical and security standards.
His work shifts from the accuracy of atomic watches to standardizing computer chips through areas such as nanomaterials, energy systems, and global communications networks.
Quantum Computing and NIST Response
On the official website, the entity warns:
Cryptographic algorithms protect confidential electronic information against fraudulent audiences, from email messages to medical records and financial statements. For decades, these algorithms have proven robust enough to resist traditional computer attacks that attempt to break encryption. However, a new type of development device called Quantum Computer can destroy these algorithms and discover vulnerable electronic secrets.
NIST website.
To combat that risk, agents will promote the development of encryption methods Both can resist attacks from current computers quantum It could potentially affect Bitcoin (and other technologies). These methods are called Whattical Post-Encryption Algorithms.
In August 2024, the US Department of Commerce approved three Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) proposed by NIST for later encryption.
- FIPS 203: Key encapsulation standard based on modular reticles to help protect keys.
- FIPS 204: Reticle-based digital signature standard intended to ensure the reliability and integrity of messages.
- FIPS 205: Standard for digital signatures based on stateless hash functions. This prioritizes simplicity and robustness to quantum attacks.
Furthermore, in March 2025, NIST reported that four additional algorithms (Bicycle, Classic Mackell, HQC, and SIKE) were selected to continue its evaluation as potential candidates for key establishment. At the time of this article, these schemes continue during review.
Bitcoin against Quantum Challenge
The relationship between NIST and Bitcoin appears in the field of post-lighting encryption.
Bitcoin currently uses digital signatures based on the traditional computer-safe scheme Elliptical Curves (ECDSA), but Vulnerable to attackers using quantum computers It’s strong enough.
If a malicious actor uses quantum algorithms such as Shor’s or Managed Use foreign funds to compromise the overall network security.
How will NIST and its standards affect the development of Bitcoin’s post-Quantum defense?
Voices within the ecosystem are beginning to debate solutions.
As reported by Cryptonoticias, Blockstream co-founder Adam Back proposed the use of SLH-DSA, a quantum-resistant digital signature algorithm approved by NIST based on the 205 FIPS standard standard.
The scheme, designed by the IBM giant, is based on Sphincs+Technology, which inherits the concept of hash companies developed since the 1980s.
That’s the SLH-DSA resistance against quantum attacks It does not depend on mathematical problems As a modest logarithm, it’s ECDSA-based, but hash works.
Their features Converts data into fixed length chains According to Bach, even if the benefits of quantum computing are available, it is virtually impossible to reverse it.
However, the developers themselves are aware of the limitations. Digital companies generated by SLH-DSA are larger than current companies, and could potentially increase the space occupied by the blockchain, resulting in an increase in commissions from transactions.
In conclusion, the role of NIST is important not only for governments and businesses, but also for decentralized protocols such as Bitcoin.
His work in standardizing post-illumination algorithms provides a reliable, audited framework You can guide your network migration Towards a future where digital security cannot be taken for granted against quantum computing progress.