Proposed Architecture
Adapting Bitcoin's proven BOLT specifications for Dilithium signatures.
A research initiative exploring quantum-safe payment channels. We're adapting proven Lightning Network principles for post-quantum cryptography—an unsolved challenge in the broader research community.
We've validated L1 with post-quantum signatures. L2 is our scaling research direction. We're exploring payment channel designs, but the cryptographic primitives for PQ payment channels are still being developed by the broader research community. Our target is a testnet prototype by Q4 2026, with mainnet feasibility dependent on research outcomes.
Post-quantum payment channels present unsolved cryptographic problems. We're transparent about what we're working on.
Lightning uses Schnorr adaptor signatures for atomic swaps. Dilithium doesn't natively support this primitive. We're exploring hash-based alternatives and reviewing academic literature.
Active ResearchDilithium signatures are 2,420 bytes (vs 64 bytes for Schnorr). Channel state updates accumulate signatures, creating storage and bandwidth challenges.
Exploring SolutionsTraditional watchtowers monitor for breach attempts. Large signature sizes change the economics and bandwidth requirements for monitoring services.
Design PhaseLarge keys and signatures affect channel capacity variance and gossip protocol bandwidth. Network topology may differ from Bitcoin Lightning.
Under AnalysisAdapting Bitcoin's proven BOLT specifications for Dilithium signatures.
Our L1 foundation provides unique opportunities for L2 scaling.
| Funding Transaction | BTC: ECDSA → SOQ: Dilithium |
| Commitment Updates | BTC: ECDSA → SOQ: Dilithium |
| HTLC Construction | Under research |
| On-Chain Settlement | BTC: ECDSA → SOQ: Dilithium |
| L1 Block Time | BTC: 10 min → SOQ: 1 min |
| Channel Open | BTC: ~60 min → SOQ: ~6 min |
| Batch Settlement | BTC: N/A → SOQ: LatticeFold+ |
| Native PQ Keys | BTC: No → SOQ: Yes |
We're studying Bitcoin's BOLT specifications—the most proven payment channel protocol—and adapting concepts for Dilithium.
L1's batch verification infrastructure could enable efficient settlement of multiple channel closes.
HKDF key derivation is designed to support channel funding, revocation, and HTLC keys when L2 matures.
1-minute L1 blocks mean channel opens/closes would complete in minutes, not hours.
Timelines are targets, not commitments. Progress depends on solving open cryptographic challenges.
L2-ready wallet architecture, HKDF key derivation, BOLT specification review
HTLC alternatives, channel state management, signature aggregation research
Single-hop channels, basic routing, wallet integration proof-of-concept
Multi-hop routing, watchtowers, public testnet
Security audit, performance optimization, mainnet consideration
"We're not claiming to have solved post-quantum payment channels—nobody has. What we have is a production-ready L1 with native Dilithium signatures, which is the necessary foundation for any future PQ L2 solution. We're doing the research openly, acknowledging uncertainties, and building toward a prototype. If the cryptographic challenges prove tractable, Soqucoin will be uniquely positioned to deploy the first quantum-safe payment network."
Track our progress on L2 development. We publish updates as we solve problems and hit milestones.