Bitcoin Developers Agree Satoshi Coins Must Stay Untouched, Says Galaxy’s Alex Thorn

• Bitcoin developers and researchers agree Satoshi-era coins should remain untouched to preserve Bitcoin’s core ownership rules and integrity.
• Quantum threats are seen as complex but distant, with distributed addresses reducing risk of large-scale coordinated attacks.
• Ongoing work explores post-quantum solutions, balancing future security needs with risks of premature protocol changes.

Alex Thorn, Research Director at Galaxy Digital, said discussions in Las Vegas shaped a growing view on Bitcoin security. He shared this after meetings with developers, advocates, and researchers during Bitcoin Conference 2026. According to Thorn, participants focused on quantum computing risks and agreed Satoshi Nakamoto’s holdings should remain untouched to protect Bitcoin’s core property rules.

Consensus Forms Around Satoshi-Era Holdings

Notably, Thorn said most participants opposed any action involving Satoshi Nakamoto’s original coins. He stressed that altering those holdings would break Bitcoin’s ownership principles. “Satoshi’s coins should not be touched,” Thorn stated, citing repeated discussions during the event.

Moreover, these holdings use early Pay-to-Public-Key structures, which raised security concerns over time. However, Thorn explained that community members still favor preserving those coins unchanged. This stance, he added, reflects a broader agreement forming across technical and investor circles.

Quantum Risk Seen as Complex, Not Immediate

However, concerns about quantum computing remain part of the discussion. Some fear a future attack could target older Bitcoin addresses using weaker cryptography. Thorn addressed this by highlighting the structure of Satoshi’s holdings across roughly 22,000 separate addresses.

Each address holds about 50 BTC, which limits exposure to a single attack point. Therefore, any large-scale breach would require cracking thousands of keys individually. Thorn said this reduces the likelihood of a coordinated “honeypot” scenario.

He also noted that active wallets, including exchanges, present larger targets. However, these entities can upgrade to post-quantum addresses if needed. Meanwhile, he referenced neutral atom computing systems, which currently support only long-range attack models.

Market Capacity and Ongoing Development Efforts

As the discussion progressed, Thorn pointed to Bitcoin’s ability to absorb large movements. According to data cited during his remarks, markets have handled sell-offs exceeding one million BTC. This activity occurred between October 2025 and the present period.

Furthermore, developers continue exploring post-quantum cryptography options. Thorn said teams are testing new methods, compressing signatures, and reviewing implementation strategies. He added that many support preparing such tools for future use without immediate deployment.

However, he also outlined risks linked to this work. These include diverting developer focus and introducing untested protocol changes. Despite that, Thorn described ongoing research as a balanced approach supported by many participants.

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