Google’s latest research has revived debate over crypto security, suggesting quantum computers may need far fewer resources than previously thought to break the cryptography used by blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum. The study estimates that fewer than 500,000 physical qubits could crack the 256-bit elliptic curve cryptography widely used across the industry — a 20-fold drop from earlier estimates.
The paper also describes a theoretical scenario in which a sufficiently advanced quantum computer could derive a Bitcoin private key in as little as nine minutes, creating the possibility of an “on-spend attack” in which an attacker exploits a public key exposed during a transaction and potentially steals funds within Bitcoin’s roughly 10-minute block window.
Responding to the news, Binance co-founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) said there is “no need to panic,” arguing that crypto networks can ultimately upgrade to quantum-resistant algorithms. Still, he cautioned that implementation will be difficult in decentralized systems, with debates over standards, possible forks, wallet migrations for self-custody users, and the risk of new bugs during upgrades.
CZ also raised the question of dormant coins, including Satoshi Nakamoto’s holdings, suggesting the industry may eventually need to consider how to keep such addresses from becoming targets for future attackers. His broader view remained optimistic: crypto, he said, will endure in a post-quantum world.
Elon Musk offered a lighter take, joking: “On the plus side, if you forgot the password to your wallet, it will be accessible in the future.”
Catherine
