Google announced a 2029 deadline for completing its migration to post-quantum cryptography, warning that current encryption standards face growing risks from quantum computing advances that could eventually compromise systems securing everything from internet infrastructure to Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH).
Google's Quantum Migration Plan
The company laid out its timeline in a blog post published Wednesday, citing two primary threats.
The first is so-called "store-now-decrypt-later" attacks, where adversaries harvest encrypted data today with plans to crack it once quantum hardware matures. The second involves the future ability of quantum computers to break digital signatures used in authentication — a mechanism central to cryptocurrency security.
"This new timeline reflects migration needs for the PQC era in light of progress on quantum computing hardware development, quantum error correction, and quantum factoring resource estimates," Google stated. The company said quantum computers will pose a "significant threat" to current cryptographic standards, specifically targeting encryption and digital signatures.
Also Read: Can Bitcoin Hold $70K Or Will Bears Take Over?
Bitcoin Community Debate
The announcement adds urgency to a dispute that has divided Bitcoin's developer community for the past year. Some advocate upgrading the network's cryptography and allowing voluntary migration to quantum-resistant signatures. Others argue that any forced change would violate Bitcoin's foundational principle that private keys alone control coins.
"I'm sure Bitcoin can agree on a path forward, write and test a series of updates, soft fork them in, and fully migrate 50 million addresses in three years," said Nic Carter. In Feb., Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin unveiled a quantum-resistant roadmap for the network.
Analyst Risk Assessments
Galaxy Digital's research head Alex Thorn said earlier this month that the risk is "real but recognized." Not all wallets face equal exposure, he noted. "Funds are at risk only when public keys are exposed on-chain," Thorn said.
Michael Saylor said in Feb. that the industry "would see it coming," prompting coordinated software upgrades across banking, internet infrastructure, and crypto protocols.
A Mar. 11 report from Ark Invest argued the threat remains years or decades away, stating that current quantum systems lack the power to compromise Bitcoin and that any breakthrough "would disrupt internet security first, triggering coordinated responses well beyond Bitcoin." Ark's researchers described the scenario as a "gradual technological progression—not a sudden 'Q-day' event." Google, however, does not appear to share that confidence.
Read Next: Dormant Ethereum Whales Wake Up To Sell $62M