Key Takeaways:
BIP-361, co-authored by Casa CTO Jameson Lopp, proposes freezing Bitcoin in legacy addresses within 5 years of activation. Over 34% of all Bitcoin BIP-360 entered testnet via BTQ Technologies in early 2026, setting the foundation BIP-361 requires before its phased timeline begins. BIP-361 Would Give Bitcoin Holders Five Years to Move Funds or Face Permanent FreezeA third phase, still under research, would allow holders of frozen coins to prove ownership through a zero-knowledge proof tied to a BIP-39 seed phrase and recover their funds. In addition to Lopp, BIP-361 co-authors include Christian Papathanasiou, Ian Smith, Joe Ross, Steve Vaile, and Pierre-Luc Dallaire-Demers. Moreover, this is not the first time Lopp has floated this idea. In a blog post published in mid-March 2025, Lopp said burning vulnerable coins may be the least-worst option.
Grok added:
“No replies show clear support or enthusiasm for the proposal. The sentiment is extremely one-sided against it.”
The proposal frames the freeze as defensive rather than punitive. Holders who migrate in time lose nothing. Those who do not lose access to funds they may no longer control anyway once quantum computing matures. The authors note that abandoned keys left frozen would reduce circulating supply, a dynamic Satoshi once described as a donation to the rest of the network.
BIP-360, which introduces the quantum-resistant address types that BIP-361 depends on, moved into testnet implementation through BTQ Technologies in early 2026. That progress gives the migration timeline a concrete starting point to build from.
