Blockstream Researcher Introduces SHRIMPS as New Step Toward Quantum-Resistant Bitcoin

Jonas Nick, Bitcoin researcher at Blockstream, has introduced SHRIMPS, a proposed stateful post-quantum (PQ) signature scheme designed to support secure signing across multiple devices while maintaining relatively compact signature sizes.

Nick described SHRIMPS as a hash-based construction that allows multiple devices initialized from the same seed to independently generate signatures, typically around 2.5 KB in size.

The proposal builds on earlier work such as SHRINCS, which produces smaller signatures but is limited to a single-device setup due to state management constraints.

SHRIMPS is designed to remove that limitation by allowing independent signing across multiple devices while maintaining security within a predefined bound. 

The approach assumes an upper limit on the number of devices derived from a single seed, which helps preserve the integrity of the scheme.

Technically, the construction combines two SPHINCS+ instances under a single public key. 

A compact signing path is used for initial signatures, while a fallback path supports additional usage, allowing the system to balance efficiency and flexibility.

Under typical parameters, SHRIMPS signatures are around 2.5 KB at 128-bit security, which is smaller than stateless alternatives such as SLH-DSA, where signatures can reach roughly 7.8 KB.

The proposal also outlines a hybrid model with SHRINCS, where a primary device can generate smaller signatures, while backup devices use SHRIMPS to maintain multi-device functionality.

The design may have applications in systems such as Bitcoin wallets, where keys are typically used for a limited number of signatures and multi-device configurations are common.

The research comes amid renewed discussion around quantum computing and its potential long-term impact on cryptographic systems, including Bitcoin. 

While practical quantum attacks remain widely considered years or decades away, post-quantum signature research continues to explore ways to mitigate theoretical risks and improve flexibility in real-world wallet setups.

Proposals such as SHRIMPS reflect ongoing efforts to develop quantum-resistant alternatives, directly addressing long-term concerns raised in discussions around potential quantum threats to Bitcoin.

Separately, commentary surrounding a recent Google-related quantum research discussion has drawn attention on social media. 

One widely circulated post highlighted that a co-author referenced as a “Bitcoin security researcher” is affiliated with the Ethereum Foundation, and questioned the neutrality of conclusions suggesting potential vulnerabilities in Bitcoin’s cryptography.