This week, Ethereum researchers warned that in the worst-case scenario, AI could crack the signatures that protect Bitcoin and Ethereum within “a few months, rather than a few years,” possibly even before the advent of quantum computers.

This information did not satisfy Blockstream, the early Bitcoin pioneer and CEO of Adam Back. He criticized Ethereum's early design decisions in a post on X.

Back particularly criticized the early developers of Ethereum, stating that they lacked experience, and noted that despite attempts to warn them, they still “re-implemented everything around an obviously problematic architecture.”

This Blockstream CEO believes that Satoshi Nakamoto, the founder of Bitcoin, chose the unspent transaction output (UTX) model for the BTC network, which reflects his deeper understanding of distributed systems and peer-to-peer network design.

Back represents: "It's almost as if Satoshi Nakamoto knew something about distributed systems."

The UTXO here is an abbreviation for the "Unspent Transaction Output" model, which operates in a similar manner to physical cash: once discrete coins or outputs are spent, new coins or outputs are generated; blockchain networks such as Bitcoin and Cardano adopt this model.

Ethereum does not use UTXO, but instead adopts an account model (similar to traditional bank ledgers). Each user or smart contract has a persistent balance and state that is updated directly with each transaction.

Although Ethereum currently relies on an account model, researchers at ETH have proposed an experimental framework to introduce optional features in the UTXO style, such as Ethereum Improvement Proposal EIP-8141. This proposal introduces a new type of transaction (0x06, also known as Frame Transactions), aimed at achieving native account abstraction and post-quantum readiness.

What happened?

Ethereum researcher Justin Drake stated on X on Wednesday that the entire crypto industry should begin to prepare for a "bunker mode," and warned that in the worst-case scenario, artificial intelligence might find a way to crack the mathematical mechanisms protecting Bitcoin and Ethereum wallets within "a few months, rather than years."

Therefore, Drake urges large holders to begin gradually transferring their funds to new addresses.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, also known as Drake, expressed his opinion on the matter. He stated that he would not advise anyone to hastily transfer their funds to a new wallet at this time, but added that the accelerated mathematical risks associated with AI still deserve serious consideration.

Buterin wrote on X: "I do not advise anyone to rush to transfer funds to a new wallet today. However, we should take seriously the risks that the accelerated advancement of AI in mathematics poses to cryptography, and try our best to minimize our exposure not only to quantum-vulnerable cryptography but also to potentially AI vulnerable cryptography."