Report says quantum computing threatens $2 trillion crypto by 2030

A new report warns that rapid advances in quantum computing could threaten the cryptographic foundations of the global cryptocurrency ecosystem, valued at over $2 trillion, within the next decade. Researchers argue that the timeline for a potential attack has shortened, with significant risks potentially emerging around 2030.

The primary vulnerability stems from the public-key cryptography that secures blockchain networks like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Quantum computers, using algorithms like Shor's, could theoretically derive private keys from public keys that are permanently visible on public ledgers. Security experts describe a "harvest now, decrypt later" strategy, where adversaries could collect encrypted blockchain data today and decrypt it once sufficiently powerful quantum systems exist. Estimates suggest between 6.5 million and 6.9 million Bitcoin, representing roughly a third of its total supply, have exposed public keys and could be vulnerable.

Recent developments from companies like Google and IBM have accelerated concerns. A Google Quantum AI paper from March 2026 estimated that breaking Bitcoin's elliptic-curve cryptography could require fewer than 500,000 physical...