Bitcoin Optech Newsletter #424

What happened

Kurt explained how the different layers of the Lightning Network have been modified to reach post-quantum (PQ) security. However, he highlighted that no modifications were done at those layers that deal with onchain operations, since that part would require a consensus change.

Here are the main changes: ● Gossip ( BOLT7 ): PQ keys are distributed directly through the gossip itself. The node_announcement message carries the node’s ML-DSA and ML-KEM public keys together with the ML-DSA signature.

The channel_update message carries only the signature. The keys are pinned, so that the node can reject any announcement trying to substitute them.