BIP 360 is a proposal focused on preparing Bitcoin for potential risks from advances in quantum computing. Co-authored by Hunter Beast, Ethan Heilman, and Isabel Foxen Duke, it proposes Pay-to-Merkle-Root (P2MR), a new Bitcoin output type designed to work much like Pay-to-Taproot while removing its quantum-vulnerable keypath spending option. The proposal aims to provide a tapscript-native address type that is better protected against long-exposure quantum attacks, while retaining functionality relevant to Bitcoin technologies such as Lightning, BitVM, and Ark.

Its authors describe P2MR as an initial, relatively unobtrusive step toward improving Bitcoin’s quantum resistance. They also intend to explore post-quantum signature schemes in future proposals to address potential short-exposure attacks. BIP 360 shares information about quantum computing’s possible implications for Bitcoin and the time needed to prepare changes across protocols, software, infrastructure, and users.

The site offers updates for people following the proposal and related mitigation efforts. P2MR is presented as a proposed change, not an implemented Bitcoin feature