TL;DR:

Coinbase dismissed the idea that quantum computing could break the blockchain, calling it “a very solvable problem”.
CEO Brian Armstrong said the company formed a quantum advisory council with cryptographers from Stanford, UT Austin and the Ethereum Foundation.
Armstrong also defended Coinbase’s stance on the CLARITY Act draft and backed the CFTC’s authority over prediction markets.

Coinbase dismissed quantum computing as an existential threat to the blockchain. Brian Armstrong, CEO of the company, stated on Wednesday at the World Liberty Forum at Mar-a-Lago that it is “a very solvable problem“, in response to a direct question from journalist Sara Eisen during a CNBC interview. “No, that’s not true”, Armstrong replied, adding that the company has been “very proactive on this issue”.

Armstrong noted that Coinbase formed an independent quantum advisory council and indicated that it maintains regular contact with leading blockchains to chart a path toward post-quantum cryptography. The council includes Professor Scott Aaronson from the University of Texas, Stanford cryptographer Dan Boneh, Ethereum Foundation researcher Justin Drake and Yehuda Lindell, Coinbase’s Head of Cryptography. The group plans to publish its research on quantum risks and migration strategies.

Quantum Computing Has Time, but the Clock Is Ticking

Quantum computing is beginning to move beyond the realm of theoretical speculation to become a long-term engineering consideration. Current quantum systems are far from being able to break widely used public-key cryptography, but researchers warn that the transition of global financial systems to new standards could take years.

Pranav Agarwal, independent director of Jetking Infotrain India, noted that the primary quantum risk for Bitcoin is the breaking of private keys in SHA-256 encryption, though he clarified that “there is enough time” to upgrade encryption standards across major networks.

At the industry level, the Ethereum Foundation elevated post-quantum security to a strategic priority in January, while the Solana Foundation began testing quantum-resistant digital signatures on a test network. In Bitcoin, developers are working with proposals such as BIP 360, aimed at reducing exposed key paths.

Coinbase and the CLARITY Act

In the same interview, Armstrong addressed Coinbase’s withdrawal of support for the CLARITY Act draft, a market structure bill that the company rejected hours before a key vote in the Senate Banking Committee. The CEO acknowledged that the company had “some issues” with the legislation, particularly regarding the treatment of stablecoin rewards. He rejected the idea that Coinbase “blocked” the bill, arguing that its objections brought legislators “back to the table” for negotiations. Armstrong expressed confidence that a deal could be reached in the coming months and land on the president’s desk.

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Filed under: News - @ February 19, 2026 2:23 pm