2‑Step Bitcoin Quantum Plan and AGI Readiness Highlighted at LONGITUDE Hong Kong

Hong Kong – February 12, 2026 – At Cointelegraph’s LONGITUDE summit, senior figures from the crypto ecosystem gathered to confront two emerging challenges that could reshape Bitcoin’s future: the looming threat of quantum computing and the arrival of artificial general intelligence (AGI). The conference, co‑hosted by exchange OneBullEx, featured a fireside chat with Tron founder Justin Sun, followed by three panels that dissected quantum risk, U.S. regulatory clarity, and the scalability of crypto infrastructure.

AGI on the Horizon – A Call for Blockchain Standards

Justin Sun opened the event by urging the industry to prepare for AGI, which many experts anticipate arriving within the next few years. Sun emphasized that developers should “design straightforward interfaces that allow AGI systems to interact with blockchain protocols,” arguing that a universal standard would prevent fragmentation as autonomous agents begin to execute financial transactions on their own.

His remarks set the tone for a broader discussion on how the next generation of intelligent software could amplify existing blockchain use‑cases—from automated market‑making to self‑executing contracts—while also magnifying systemic risk if not properly integrated.

Quantum Computing: A Two‑Step Mitigation Roadmap

The second panel examined the “quantum threat” to Bitcoin’s elliptic‑curve signatures. Opinions varied:

• Charles Edwards (Capriole Investments) warned that the market is already pricing the risk. “Until Bitcoin demonstrates quantum resistance, investors should discount its valuation accordingly,” he said, noting that the emergence of risk disclosures in ETF prospectuses reflected a growing awareness of the issue.

• Matthew Roszak (Bloq/Hemi) described the upcoming response as a “two‑step process”: first, a protocol upgrade to introduce quantum‑resistant signatures; second, a period of network stabilization before the upgrade is fully adopted. “It’s a preview, not a panic,” he added.

• Akshat Vaidya (Maelstrom) called the danger “existential” but expressed confidence that the community would mount a coordinated, proportionate reaction.

Collectively, the panelists agreed that a quantum‑ready Bitcoin will require a hard‑fork to replace current ECDSA keys with lattice‑based or hash‑based alternatives, followed by a migration phase during which legacy wallets are phased out. The timeline, however, remains uncertain, with most experts projecting a multi‑year horizon for full implementation.

U.S. CLARITY Act – Near‑Term Regulatory Relief

A separate discussion, led by Henri Arslanian (Nine Blocks Capital Management), focused on the pending U.S. “CLARITY Act,” which aims to consolidate regulatory guidance for digital assets. Although the legislation has not yet been enacted, several speakers highlighted its potential impact:

• David Sacks, the White House crypto and AI czar, reiterated that the bill is “closer than ever” to passage, signaling a shift toward a more predictable environment for U.S. firms.

• Craig Salm (Grayscale) pointed out that historic turf wars between the SEC and CFTC have softened, with both agencies now coordinating on rule‑making – a development that could speed up the CLARITY Act’s finalization.

• Sean McHugh (Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, Dubai) contrasted the current U.S. stance with Dubai’s regulatory certainty, noting that many industry professionals are relocating to jurisdictions that already offer clear frameworks.

The consensus was that while the CLARITY Act will not solve all challenges, its adoption would provide the “legal bedrock” needed for broader institutional participation, especially in products such as Bitcoin ETFs.

Infrastructure Scaling – Are We Ready for Trillion‑Dollar Flows?

The final panel addressed whether today’s crypto stack can sustain institutional capital at the trillion‑dollar scale. Representatives from Offchain Labs, Monad Foundation, DoubleZero, and OneBullEx expressed caution:

• A.J. Warner (Offchain Labs) argued that the ecosystem is still grappling with network resiliency, latency, and user‑experience issues, making it unlikely to handle “trillion‑dollar” volumes in the near term.

• Joanita Titan (Monad Foundation) echoed this sentiment, distinguishing between “billion‑dollar” payments, which are feasible, and “trillion‑dollar” processing, which remains out of reach.

The panel identified three primary bottlenecks: on‑chain throughput, cross‑chain interoperability, and the robustness of Layer‑2 solutions. Until these are addressed, large‑scale institutional inflows will likely be fragmented across multiple protocols and custodial solutions.

Analysis

1. Quantum risk is moving from speculative to material – The inclusion of quantum risk warnings in Bitcoin ETF filings suggests that the market is treating the threat as a real pricing factor. A coordinated upgrade path, as described by Roszak, would mitigate panic but requires consensus among miners, developers, and custodians.

2. AGI readiness could be a competitive differentiator – Sun’s call for standardized AGI‑blockchain interfaces anticipates a future where autonomous agents execute trades and manage portfolios without human oversight. Early adopters that embed such standards may capture a premium in the emerging “machine‑driven finance” segment.

3. Regulatory clarity is a prerequisite for scaling – The CLARITY Act, paired with improved coordination between the SEC and CFTC, could unlock the next wave of institutional capital. However, the law’s final content will determine how quickly banks and asset managers can integrate crypto products into their offerings.

4. Infrastructure is the limiting factor for mega‑flows – Even with regulatory green lights, the current Layer‑1 and Layer‑2 ecosystems lack the throughput and reliability required for trillion‑dollar transactions. Investment in scalability solutions—such as rollups, sharding, and cross‑chain bridges—must accelerate to match regulatory and market demand.

Key Takeaways

• Quantum‑Resistant Upgrade – Bitcoin’s community is preparing a two‑step plan: introduce quantum‑secure signatures, then transition wallets and services. Investors should monitor the development of fork proposals and the timeline for network migration.

• AGI Integration – Industry leaders are urging the creation of simple, open standards for AGI to interact with blockchains, a move that could shape future protocol designs.

• Regulatory Momentum – The U.S. CLARITY Act is nearing passage; its enactment is expected to reduce jurisdictional disputes and provide clearer guidance for crypto‑related products.

• Scalability Gap – Current infrastructure is deemed insufficient for trillion‑dollar institutional flows; focus will likely shift to enhancing Layer‑2 solutions and improving network resilience.

• Geographic Shifts – Favorable regulatory environments, such as Dubai’s, are attracting talent and firms seeking certainty, potentially influencing where the next wave of crypto innovation takes place.

The LONGITUDE conference underscored that Bitcoin’s long‑term security, the rise of AGI, and regulatory certainty are converging as the dominant themes for the crypto sector in 2026 and beyond. Stakeholders who address these challenges proactively will be better positioned to capture the next phase of market growth.

Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/cointelegraph-longitude-us-clarity-act-quantum-computing-bitcoin?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound