Crypto companies are accelerating efforts to protect wallets and custody systems against future quantum computing threats, with some targeting upgrades at the wallet layer rather than waiting for blockchain protocol changes. Silence Laboratories has added post-quantum support for MPC signatures using NIST-approved algorithms like ML-DSA, enabling institutions to upgrade without infrastructure changes. Other approaches include Postquant Labs' smart contract layer overlay for Bitcoin and StarkWare's hash-based signature scheme. Experts warn that wallet-level fixes alone are insufficient without corresponding chain upgrades, and the timeline for Q-Day—when quantum computers break current crypto—could be as soon as 2030. The industry faces coordination challenges as different blockchains adopt varying quantum-resistant schemes, potentially creating fragmentation.

Key facts

• Silence Laboratories adds post-quantum MPC signatures using NIST-standard ML-DSA algorithm.
• Postquant Labs builds quantum-resistant signatures on Bitcoin via smart contract overlay.
• StarkWare researcher proposes hash-based signatures as a 'last-resort' Bitcoin fix.
• Q-Day estimate: quantum computers may break current crypto as soon as 2030.
• Wallet-level upgrades alone insufficient without corresponding blockchain upgrades.

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