The post What Happens To Bitcoin When Quantum Computers Arrive? appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.

Recent announcements in quantum computing have brought renewed attention to the question of how these advances could impact Bitcoin. In a newly published report, we provide an overview of the current state of quantum computing, the threat model for Bitcoin, and the next steps being considered. This post offers a summary of our key findings and recommendations. See the full report here. Timeline for Bitcoin Preparation to Quantum Computing We outline a dual-track migration strategy for Bitcoin in response to the potential emergence of quantum computing. Long-Term Path: This comprehensive approach assumes that there is still a substantial window of time before quantum computing poses a practical threat. Drawing on the timelines of prior protocol upgrades such as SegWit and Taproot, we estimate that implementing a full quantum-safe transition could take approximately 7 years. Short-Term Contingency Path: This track serves as an emergency response in the event of a sudden breakthrough in quantum computing. It prioritizes a rapid deployment of protective measures to secure the Bitcoin network and could be executed in roughly 2 years. In both scenarios, funds that are carefully managed, i.e., stored in hashed address types like P2PKH or P2WPKH without address reuse, are already protected from quantum attacks. However, spending those funds in a post-quantum secure way would require additional infrastructure, which is expected to be developed during the second phase of either timeline Quantum Computers: When Are They Coming, and What Will They Be Capable Of? If realized at scale, quantum computing could offer significant speed-ups for specific classes of problems by harnessing the principles of quantum mechanics. Of particular concern are cryptographically relevant quantum computers (CRQCs), machines capable of breaking the mathematical assumptions underlying modern cryptography. This includes algorithms like Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC), which is fundamental to Bitcoin’s security.  While quantum computing has…

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Filed under: News - @ June 20, 2025 9:28 pm