Bitcoin
The world of cryptocurrencies has faced regulators, hackers, and market crashes, but its most frightening threats may come from research labs rather than trading venues.
As quantum computing inches closer to real-world feasibility, experts are warning: Bitcoin’s Cryptographic infrastructure can be broken at some point.
A machine that could destroy mathematics
Quantum computers are different from ordinary machines. By exploiting the strange principle of quantum mechanics (particles can exist in multiple states at the same time), they can process calculations at unimaginable speeds. If you had a computer powerful enough to take full advantage of this, you could theoretically be able to crack the encryption that protects almost every digital asset in existence.
To most people, it still sounds like science fiction. For others, it’s a ticking clock.
Venture capitalists look ahead
At the Global Blockchain Congress in Dubai, Amit Mehra, partner at Borderless Capital, explained the company’s increasing focus on quantum resilience, technology designed to protect blockchains from quantum attacks before the threat arrives.
In his view, the industry has become complacent. “With chip technology and computing power improving so rapidly, schedules can collapse overnight,” Mehra says. He predicted that meaningful breakthroughs could occur before the end of this decade, and warned that proof-of-work systems like Bitcoin would be the first to be affected.
Bitcoin encryption at risk
All Bitcoin wallets and transactions rely on cryptographic keys, which are giant mathematical locks designed to be impossible to guess. Quantum computing threatens to make these locks guessable again. A system capable of running Scholl’s algorithm at a large enough scale could theoretically derive the private key from the public key, making traditional wallets vulnerable.
In that case, ownership itself becomes meaningless. Every coin, every NFT, every crypto asset can be stolen or counterfeited.
Warning bell from the market side
Not everyone is content to wait for the arrival of scholars. Charles Edwards, founder of digital asset fund Capriol Investments, has been sounding the alarm for months. Recently post At X, he argued that Bitcoin will only have a short period of time to evolve before traditional assets like gold permanently outperform it.
“It’s an emergency,” he wrote. “We have a year to choose a solution.”
His stark warning resonated because it reframed quantum risk not as a scientific debate but as an existential business question, one that could shape investment confidence in Bitcoin for years.
A quiet arms race in cryptography
Some blockchain projects have already begun experimenting with post-quantum cryptography, a new mathematical defense designed to counter quantum decryption.
Earlier this year, SUI Research introduced a framework that allows you to shield networks like Near, Solana, and Cosmos without disruptive forks or address resets. But for giants like Bitcoin and Ethereum, where protocols are deeply ingrained, retrofitting this kind of protection will be much more complex.
Meanwhile, major governments are taking quantum threats seriously. According to a report by Bloomberg, the US Department of Commerce is considering new investments in the field, not only to counter Chinese advances, but also to secure America’s own crypto infrastructure.
race against time
The question is no longer if quantum computing will become a reality, but when. The danger for Mr. Mehra and other investors is in underestimating that acceleration.
“Cryptocurrencies are built on the premise that certain problems cannot always be solved,” Mehra said. “Quantum computing is rewriting that premise.”
As researchers and developers race to design new layers of post-quantum security, the crypto industry faces its most paradoxical challenge yet: defending decentralized freedom from the forefront of technological advancement.
The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or trading advice. Coindoo.com does not endorse or recommend any particular investment strategy or cryptocurrency. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
