Can Quantum Computers Crack Bitcoin? CoinShares Says Not For A Decade

Craig Gidney of Google challenges Project Eleven's Q-Day Prize after critics reproduce the 15-bit Bitcoin result using randomness. (Image: Shutterstock)
Craig Gidney of Google challenges Project Eleven's Q-Day Prize after critics reproduce the 15-bit Bitcoin result using randomness. (Image: Shutterstock)

Bitcoin (BTC) faces no immediate threat from quantum computing, as breaking its cryptographic security remains at least a decade away, according to a report published by CoinShares.

What Happened: Quantum Timeline

The digital asset investment firm concluded quantum computers capable of compromising Bitcoin's security are "nowhere near dangerous territory."

Breaking the secp256k1 encryption standard would require quantum systems with millions of logical qubits, far exceeding current capabilities, the report stated.

Reversing a public key within one day would require an attacker to operate a fault-tolerant quantum computer with 13 million physical qubits, approximately 100,000 times more powerful than today's largest quantum systems, according to researchers cited in the report. Breaking it within an hour would demand performance 3 million times better than current quantum computers, CoinShares noted.

Also Read: Roubini Warns Trump Crypto Policies Risk 'Financial Apocalypse'

Why It Matters: Built-in Protection

Modern Bitcoin addresses keep public keys hidden behind hashes until coins are spent, creating an exponential layer of protection.

The firm characterized quantum technology as a foreseeable engineering challenge with sufficient time for defensive upgrades, rather than an immediate threat to the network's 21 million supply cap or proof-of-work mechanism.

"For institutional investors, the key insight is that quantum risks are contained, with an extended timeline for resolution," CoinShares stated. "Bitcoin's architecture provides built-in resilience, enabling proactive adaptations."

According to Grayscale's updated outlook on digital assets, Bitcoin faces no immediate price threat from quantum computing in 2026, The investment firm's latest research acknowledges the theoretical risk but dismisses its near-term market impact based on current technology timelines.

Read Next: How French Magistrate Escaped 30-Hour Crypto Kidnapping Ordeal

Alexey Bondarev profile photo

Alexey Bondarev

Alexey Bondarev is the Head of Content at Yellow.com, having reported on crypto for the last 10 years. He specializes in in-depth Research and Learn pieces, with a focus on analytical reporting, industry context, and the bigger forces shaping crypto, from the AI era and security technologies to fintech innovation. He believes that everything digital will imminently overcome everything analogue and is working hard to make that come true.

page_article_disclaimer
page_blogs_view_latest
Show All News
Can Quantum Computers Crack Bitcoin? CoinShares Says Not For A Decade | Yellow