GPU improvements lower estimated quantum-safe Bitcoin computing cost to $59

Researchers lowered the estimated computing cost of a specialized quantum-safe Bitcoin transaction to $59 as of October 13, following improvements to graphics processing software. The Quantum-Safe Bitcoin Optimization Challenge recorded more than 1 billion verified candidates per second on an Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU, up from an initial rate of approximately 146 million. The method uses hash-based cryptography and an off-chain computational puzzle to protect specially prepared holdings under Bitcoin's existing consensus rules. The $59 estimate comes from simulated GPU workloads, excludes network fees and relies partly on provisional assumptions. Protection applies only to eligible coins whose conventional public keys remain hidden. Ordinary relay policies reject these transactions, requiring direct submission to willing miners.