BitGo and Silence Labs completed a live post-quantum MPC signing test using ML-DSA. The demo shows institutions can upgrade now. What confirms or weakens the thesis.
BitGo and Silence Laboratories completed a post-quantum MPC transaction simulation on live institutional custody infrastructure. The demonstration used BitGo’s custody platform and Silence Laboratories’ post-quantum MPC protocol to show how quantum-safe signing operates inside existing wallet workflows.
The test took place during a private industry event hosted by both firms. BitGo said the event included researchers, security leaders, financial institutions, and blockchain industry participants from groups linked to Google, Stanford, the Linux Foundation, and other organizations.
The wallet infrastructure runs Silence Laboratories’ PQ MPC protocol, based on ML-DSA (Module-Lattice-Based Digital Signature Algorithm). The algorithm is part of FIPS 204, a digital signature standard from the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
BitGo said the test showed how post-quantum signing can fit into institutional wallet operations while keeping MPC features such as distributed key control, policy checks, and separate duties across teams.
The choice of ML-DSA matters because it resists attacks from both classical and quantum computers. FIPS 204 adoption gives the industry a government-vetted baseline – any custodian that wants to stay ahead of quantum risk must integrate one of the NIST-approved algorithms before a practical quantum computer emerges.
Belshe said institutions want to prepare without weakening security, control, or operational resilience. The test signals that institutional custodians can begin piloting upgrades without disrupting current operations.
Both executives framed the test as a controlled transition rather than an emergency patch. That distinction matters for compliance teams and risk managers evaluating timelines for quantum-safe upgrades.
Circle has moved to prepare Arc for post-quantum security. Its plan includes quantum-resistant wallets and signatures at mainnet launch in 2026, with deeper infrastructure upgrades set for later phases.
Bitcoin faces a long-term quantum security debate. No quantum computer can break Bitcoin today. Researchers have warned, however, that exposed public keys could become vulnerable in future conditions. Proposed fixes include BIP-360 and BIP-361, which seek quantum-resistant transactions and a migration away from older signatures.
The architectural difference is critical. Bitcoin would require a network-wide consensus change. Custodians such as BitGo can upgrade their own signing infrastructure without a fork. That makes the test a faster path to quantum resistance for assets held off-chain.
Institutional custody is the most concentrated point of vulnerability. A quantum compromise of a custodian’s signing keys could wipe out billions in client assets in minutes. The BitGo test shows that MPC-based custodians can reduce that risk by adopting lattice-based signatures now, while leaving the underlying blockchain unchanged.
Practical rule: any custodian that controls private keys on behalf of clients should have a quantum upgrade path on the roadmap by 2026. Circle’s 2026 target, combined with BitGo’s live demo, sets an informal industry timeline.
The post-quantum test comes as BitGo expands its role beyond pure storage. OKX added BitGo’s Off-Exchange Settlement platform for U.S. institutions. The setup allows firms to trade on OKX while keeping assets in BitGo cold custody – a reminder that custody controls remain central to institutional trading.
BitGo’s dual push – quantum readiness and settlement integration – positions it as a full-service custody layer for institutions that want both security and trading efficiency. Rivals must match both dimensions to compete.
For traders and risk managers tracking the sector, the key question is not whether quantum computing will break crypto. It is whether the custodians holding their assets have a credible upgrade path before the first practical quantum attack lands. BitGo’s test is proof that one path exists. Watch for competitor responses and the next NIST guidance to gauge the pace of industry-wide adoption.
Prepared with AlphaScala research tooling and grounded in primary market data: live prices, fundamentals, SEC filings, hedge-fund holdings, and insider activity. Each story is checked against AlphaScala publishing rules before release. Educational coverage, not personalized advice.