I am curious about progress in optimization of the peer-2-peer algorithms around discovery and efficiency. We were recently reading about implementation like ant colony optimization and Swarm Intelligence.  I am also curious about the utilization of neural networks / machine learning for optimization. Any resources, directions, introductions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

What would be the impact of implementing in Bitcoin. Could some additional efficiency and saving be picked up?

Swarm Intelligence in Optimization
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-540-74089-6_2#page-1

Ant Algorithms for Search in Unstructured Peer-to-Peer Networks
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/1623938/


Ant colony optimization inspired resource discovery in P2P Grid systems
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11227-008-0214-0?LI=true

 https://www.indeed.com/m/viewjob?jk=b13178025bd59057

Blockchain Developer (Remote Work and Salary Negotiable)
The Quantum Resistant Ledger
The Quantum Resistant Ledger (QRL) is a high security, resilient and long-term stability blockchain option for individuals, organizations and institutions engaged in transparent peer-peer transactions. It is a future proof vault for digital assets of value. www.the >:(qrl.org. The immediate roadmap of the network provides end-end encrypted messaging and data channels, digital identification, proof of ownership and governance secured with Proof of Stake and a feasibility study of implementing smart contracts.

We are seeking a strong team member in the development of Blockchain tools and application software, with a focus on improving the security of Blockchain technology. We expect to be a leader in cybersecurity today and into the future. We are expanding our team of cryptographers, programmers, economists, thought leaders, researchers and developers who create and apply tools and techniques for building secure applications. We are looking for top candidates to help us continue the establishment of ground-breaking improvements for securing the blockchain. Software has never been more important to our lives and our security, nor has software insecurity ever been a greater risk. With quantum computing having a high probability of viability in the next 5-10 years, it is necessary to start building appropriate infrastructure.

Joining the QRL team, you will to reduce vulnerabilities resulting from architecture, design and coding errors before they are deployed. You will identify common and rare errors that lead to software vulnerabilities, establish standard secure coding standards and build tools to improve the development process, educate potential users, and advance the state of the practice for building a secure ledger of transactions and store of value.

The successful candidate will participate in research, development and engineering projects that identify and implement best practices for the Quantum Resistant Ledger. The candidate will work directly with the QRL community to apply Blockchain languages and tools, develop and provide training in secure coding practices; evaluate, extend, and use tools to improve and automate source code analysis; review code bases to ensure that best practices are being followed; and enhance the organizational capabilities to produce secure software systems. The candidate will be expected to develop tools and applications, write reports and deliver presentations that explain the findings of research and software evaluations, helping the network improve the software to meet the security and privacy needs of their users.

Who you are:

You are interested in the long-term viability and use of blockchain technology
You love to build blockchain networks, apps, create solutions and interact with other developers around decentralized technology that empowers individuals, organizations and institutions
You are involved in online developer community groups
You have a strong software developer background, write code and share what you know
You enjoy discussing and learning about a broad range of developer technologies and communities and can display relevant deep subject matter expertise
You have a passion for technological excellence, high level of curiosity and a willingness to integrate the expertise, experience and directions of others.
You have a genuine interest in solving technical problems using network and cognitive computing technologies.
Primary Responsibility

Commit/review/fix code for The Quantum Resistant Leder
Create and Maintain Open-source codebase protocol
Implement best practices for development of the Quantum Resistant Ledger Codebase
Be the go-to expert for the Quantum Resistant Ledger architecture
Develop first class developer scenarios and demo apps, collateral, and training material on top of the platform to demonstrate value and build excitement.
Engage with community to encourage input and convey progress
Develop applications in or tools for the Quantum Resistant Ledger
Build and configure various software build environments, and build custom tools to integrate and automate the use of software building and analysis tools
Develop and analyze source code in common programming languages such as Go C, C#, C++, Java, and Python, with a focus on secure coding principles and practices
Provide optimization and key network indicators for the Peer to Peer Network
Use static and dynamic analysis tools to evaluate software to find and remove vulnerabilities
Analyze data from multiple sources, generate defensible results, and represent them in reporting products and interactions with customers, sponsors, and the public
Contribute in a global team environment with team members with varying skills, experience and locations
Research, Write and present clear reports
Qualifications

Must have hands on experience with all aspects of software development: data, server side, UI, and open source software.
Must have experience with Linux, GoLang, Open source, C++ or Java, client server apps
Knowledge about Blockchain technologies preferred
Proof of Experience in the form of Github. StackOverflow, or some other verified development forum
Strong references who can demonstrate connection to the Job Requirements
Required experience:

Peer to Peer Network: 1 year
Network Security: 1 year
Software Development: 1 year
Go: 1 year
GitHub: 1 year
StackOverflow: 1 year
Testing: 1 year

https://www.indeed.com/m/viewjob?jk=b13178025bd59057

So, I am happy to announce that www.theqrl.org The Quantum Resistant Ledger is working on this problem specifically. We also have our replies to a number of the questions and statements posed here within our medium publication https://medium.com/the-quantum-resistant-ledger.

A Discussion of Quantum Computing and Cryptocurrencies: https://medium.com/the-quantum-resistant-ledger/be-prepared-for-quantum-computing-era-bb1a9ec6cd35

In regards to the hard fork or changing of signature: https://medium.com/the-quantum-resistant-ledger/peter-waterland-2deed7bdbf65deed7b and https://medium.com/the-quantum-resistant-ledger/wouldnt-they-just-be-able-to-switch-to-some-hash-based-or-symmetric-cryptographic-algorithm-if-bdd99dfa03be

A basic risk and value assessment: https://medium.com/the-quantum-resistant-ledger/the-investment-thesis-for-a-quantum-resistant-ledger-9d335f8cf9ef

Our Solution: https://medium.com/the-quantum-resistant-ledger/seed-investment-strategy-pos-algorithm-updates-3b3854e83a4a

We would love your feedback on our assumptions and development.

Bingo!

I would like to point you to https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1730273.0

This topic is interesting, because we at The Quantum Resistant Ledger or explicitly working on this issue. We are currently running a testnet and have period updates here on Bitcoin Talk. While many systems would be vulnerable to a quantum attack, we know that government and financial institutions are currently investigating and updating their infrastructure to protect against Quantum Computing threats. Therefore, we believe it is vital to prepare ourselves, as well.

The reality is that blockchains, and specifically Bitcoin represent a very lucrative target for state level actors and rogue agents. The very unregulated nature of Bitcoin makes it susceptible to targeting. Therefore, we understand the risk tolerant perspective taken by some. We are taking a risk adverse perspective, especially with experts believing that there is a 15% chance Quantum Supremacy will be achieved within the next 10 years.

We would love to get your input and thoughts on our dedicated post https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1730273.0

Michele Mosca, a professor at the University of Waterloo’s Institute for Quantum Computing and the co-host of the workshop, pegged the odds of reaching Y2Q by 2026 at one in seven, rising to one in two by 2031. This is nearly 15%!!!!
http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/hacking-cryptography-and-the-countdown-to-quantum-computing

http://theqrl.org/ringedQ@2x.png
Blockchain Security: Quantum Resistant Ledger Begins Testing
By Zayan Guedim - March 24, 2017
https://edgylabs.com/2017/03/24/quantum-resistant-ledger-blockchain/
Quantum computing is considered as an impending threat to cryptocurrency protocols and Blockchain as a whole. The Quantum Resistant Ledger is a technology intended to counter eventual quantum attacks against Blockchain, and it is has recruited testers to provide feedback.

So your perspective is to not worry about it because other institutions would have issues too? So would you consider yourself very risk tolerant in this case? What would be key indicators for your risk evaluation to increase?

Full Disclosure:
QRL is a Quantum Resistant Ledger (updates forthcoming)  that is meant to apply the best available encryption techniques, blockchain technologies and proof-of-stake to protects accounts and transactions in need of long-term stability and security. : End Disclosure

With that out of the way, I saw this article https://themerkle.com/could-ibms-universal-quantum-computing-be-a-threat-to-bitcoin/ today and it seems that IBM is paving the road. I have read some of the past posts about how bitcoin will adjust when the threat seems imminent. However, with this asset continuing to grow, wouldn't rogue agents benefit from testing and validating on Bitcoin first. It would seem applying the encryption breaking algorithms on Bitcoin to acquire quick funding before government and other protected institutional actors would be a very easily derived strategy?

In addition, wouldn't the first assault on this type of encryption have a more substantial impact on the foundation behind the trust within current blockchain technologies.


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“Bitcoin is definitely not quantum computer proof,” Andersen Cheng, co-founder of U.K. cybersecurity firm Post Quantum, tells Newsweek. “Bitcoin will expire the very day the first quantum computer appears.”

“It will be doomed,”Martin Tomlinson, a professor in the Security, Communications and Networking Research Centre at Plymouth University says. “Any disruption needs the consensus of the bitcoin community and that can’t even be realized when it comes to the transaction limit problem . That’s a relatively simple problem compared to redoing the entire digital signature method.