Bitcoin Core developer Cory Fields has proposed a "quantum mine" concept designed to deter attackers who might use future quantum computers to steal Bitcoin. Under the scheme, any attacker attempting to hijack coins must first post an equivalent amount of Bitcoin as collateral. The original owner can set up a hidden proof of ownership and activate it during a lockup period (e.g., 30 days) to reclaim their Bitcoin while forfeiting the attacker's collateral. Attackers cannot determine which holdings contain "mines" before committing funds. Fields also outlined an auction system for dormant wallets: competitors place sealed bids on vulnerable addresses in advance, and if a quantum thief attacks, the highest bidder's smart contract automatically triggers, destroying the target coins and redirecting the confiscated collateral as a bounty to the top bidder. The proposal applies only to owners who still hold their private keys and excludes lost Bitcoin. Fields emphasized that both mechanisms are thought experiments predicated on Bitcoin already having quantum-resistant wallet capabilities, noting that no execution rules have been written yet.