Quantum Computers Threaten the Foundations of Bitcoin and Blockchain

Quantum computers are advancing at an unprecedented pace and soon pose a serious threat to encryption techniques currently deemed secure. This jeopardizes the foundation of Bitcoin (BTC) and other blockchain networks.

What seems unbreakable today may become vulnerable tomorrow—and the industry is largely unprepared, warns David Carvalho.

A Silent Threat in the Background

While crypto investors focus on bull runs and altcoin seasons, a more fundamental battle is unfolding behind the scenes. According to David Carvalho, CEO of Naoris Protocol, the crypto sector has largely ignored the rise of quantum technology. He states that quantum computers will be capable of cracking the cryptography securing our wallets and transactions within five to seven years—or possibly sooner.

The biggest danger? Quantum attacks are retroactive. Everything ever recorded on the blockchain could be cracked later once the technology is advanced enough. Hackers are already collecting this data, waiting for the right moment to strike.

The Vulnerability of Bitcoin

The security of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and most other blockchains relies on Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC). This technology is based on the idea that certain mathematical problems are unsolvable for classical computers. However, using Shor’s algorithm, quantum computers can solve these problems efficiently.

If this becomes reality, it won’t matter if you store your Bitcoin in a hardware wallet. An attacker would only need to obtain the public key to derive the private key—and gain access to your coins.

Industry Largely Unprepared

The only way to protect cryptocurrencies from this threat is to transition to post-quantum cryptography. This requires a complete upgrade of underlying protocols and signatures. According to Carvalho, this is technically feasible, but time is critical. Waiting until after an attack is not an option—it will simply be too late.

Yet, for now, only a small number of developers are working on quantum-resistant solutions. Most projects have not even begun preparations, despite the existential importance of a future-proof infrastructure.

A Global Risk

The crypto sector isn’t the only one at risk. Any industry relying on encryption—from banking to defense and communication—could be affected. A sufficiently powerful quantum computer could theoretically break VPNs, emails, financial data, and military networks worldwide.

The clock is ticking. While quantum computers aren’t yet strong enough to break encryption today, that moment is approaching rapidly. The only chance for protection is to act now—before it’s too late.