Adding the security perspective on Bitcoin 2026. While Bitcoin’s base layer is remarkably secure, there are important areas to discuss.
Bitcoin Security Considerations for 2026
Base Layer Security: Still Strong
Bitcoin’s security model remains robust:
- Hashrate: All-time highs, making 51% attacks economically infeasible
- Code maturity: Bitcoin Core has 15+ years of battle-testing
- Conservative development: Slow, deliberate changes reduce vulnerability surface
Where Security Attention is Needed
1. Layer 2 Security
Lightning Network and other L2s introduce new attack surfaces:
- Channel jamming attacks
- Routing privacy concerns
- Watchtower reliability
- Force-close vulnerabilities
2. Custody Solutions
With institutional adoption:
- Multi-sig implementation quality varies widely
- Hardware wallet supply chain concerns
- Custody provider security audits needed
3. Ordinals/BRC-20 Security
The new inscription ecosystem introduces risks:
- Wallet parsing vulnerabilities
- Marketplace smart contract risks (on other chains)
- Scam token proliferation
What I’ll Be Looking For at Bitcoin 2026
Security Track Sessions:
- Post-quantum cryptography discussions for Bitcoin
- Lightning security research updates
- Hardware wallet security improvements
- Multisig best practices evolution
Vendor Security:
- Which custody providers have published audits
- Hardware wallet firmware verification
- Node software security practices
Security Red Flags to Watch
If you’re evaluating Bitcoin projects at the conference:
- No audit - Major red flag for anything handling funds
- Closed source - Bitcoin ethos favors open source
- Novel cryptography - Be skeptical of non-standard approaches
- Rushed development - Security requires time and review
Recommendation
For anyone attending Bitcoin 2026, prioritize sessions on:
- Core protocol security research
- Lightning security improvements
- Custody security standards
The security-focused talks are often less flashy than product announcements, but they’re where the important work happens.
Trust but verify, then verify again.