Quantum Computing

European financial authorities say advanced quantum computers could eventually undermine cryptography used to secure blockchains, raising fresh concerns for Bitcoin holders using older or reused addresses. About 6.9 million Bitcoin, valued at roughly $586 billion, could be at risk if exposed public keys become vulnerable to future private key attacks.

StarkWare says a week of AI-assisted coding reduced the estimated GPU cost of preparing a quantum-resistant Bitcoin transaction from about $320 to $66. The figure remains an estimate, and the improved method has not yet been demonstrated in another mined Bitcoin transaction.

Blockchains face a long-range security challenge as sophisticated actors collect encrypted data that could be decoded once quantum computing matures. Muriel Médard argues that post-quantum resilience can be built with classical coding techniques, including Random Linear Network Coding, rather than exotic hardware.

Bitcoin and Ethereum are moving post-quantum planning into sharper focus as U.S. support for quantum hardware expands. Developers are not treating the threat as immediate, but migration timelines are increasingly clustering around a 2029 planning horizon.

The Ethereum Foundation has set a December 2029 target to make Ethereum resistant to quantum-computing attacks across transactions, validators and data storage. The 2027 Hegotá upgrade is positioned as a scheduling anchor for later post-quantum cryptography work rather than the upgrade that delivers quantum resistance itself.

Six Bitcoin wallets last active between 2011 and 2014 moved 553.59 BTC worth about $40 million from Aug. 16 through Aug. 26. The transfers drew attention because most of the coins did not move to known exchanges, while broader dormant Bitcoin activity has slowed to its lowest level since 2022.

Blockstream researchers have introduced SHRINCS, a proposed Bitcoin signature method designed to resist future quantum attacks while limiting pressure on block space. The draft remains early, with a pending security proof, non-production reference software, and a path to Bitcoin that would require a soft fork and broad network support.

Jim Cramer says he plans to sell all of his bitcoin because of concerns that quantum computing could threaten crypto security within three to four years. Bitcoin has remained resilient near $64,000, with many traders treating the warning as another contrarian signal.

Solana Foundation CISO Michael Coates says crypto’s next major security challenge is shifting from code exploits toward AI-powered social engineering, fake identities and compromised credentials. The foundation is also evaluating post-quantum cryptography as blockchain networks prepare for longer-term risks from quantum computing.

Hong Kong’s banking sector received a Quantum Preparedness Index score of 2.3 out of 10 from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. The regulator is pushing banks toward stronger post-quantum cryptography planning, pilots and practical preparedness by 2030.

Quantum computing is moving from distant theory toward a practical risk for encrypted systems, and Bitcoin may be among the first major networks tested. Market experts say the largest challenge may not be cryptography itself, but whether decentralized governance can move quickly enough to deploy post-quantum protections.

Galaxy Digital has launched a $5 million initiative aimed at helping Bitcoin developers prepare for future quantum-computing threats. The program will fund work on quantum-resistant signatures, wallet migration tools and security audits as the industry weighs long-term risks to blockchain cryptography.

Project Eleven says a new zero-knowledge proof system could let wallet owners prove control of quantum-vulnerable bitcoin without exposing seed material. The approach may support a recovery path under BIP-361, but it does not cover Satoshi-era coins generated before modern wallet derivation existed.

A proposal from Binance founder Changpeng Zhao to freeze Satoshi Nakamoto’s estimated 1.1 million bitcoin if quantum computers threaten Bitcoin’s cryptography has divided prominent industry figures. The dispute centers on whether defending the network from a future hack would justify intervention in coins long treated by markets as permanently dormant.

The White House has issued twin executive orders to accelerate U.S. quantum computing efforts while preparing federal systems for a future where today’s encryption may no longer be safe. One directive pushes advanced hardware and sensors, while the other forces a shift to post-quantum cryptography.

The Algorand Foundation has unveiled a plan to harden its network against future quantum threats, with user-facing upgrades slated to begin in 2026. The roadmap reflects a broader industry push to prepare blockchain infrastructure for post-quantum cryptography.