# Quantum Related Articles

HTX News Center provides the latest articles and in-depth analysis on "Quantum", covering market trends, project updates, tech developments, and regulatory policies in the crypto industry.

Grayscale Highlights Bitcoin’s Resilience as Community Prepares for Quantum Era

Grayscale's head of research, Zach Pandl, argues that Bitcoin's primary challenge in the quantum era is not technological but social. While a recent Google study raised concerns about quantum computers potentially breaking Bitcoin's encryption, Pandl highlights that Bitcoin's UTXO model, proof-of-work consensus, and lack of native smart contracts make it less vulnerable than other cryptocurrencies. The real issue lies in the community's ability to reach consensus on how to handle the estimated 1.7 million BTC in early, quantum-vulnerable addresses—including those possibly belonging to Satoshi Nakamoto. Potential solutions include burning those coins, limiting spending from risky addresses, or taking no action. This echoes past divisive debates, like the one surrounding Bitcoin Ordinals, underscoring the difficulty of achieving community agreement.

TheNewsCrypto04/07 12:26

Grayscale Highlights Bitcoin’s Resilience as Community Prepares for Quantum Era

TheNewsCrypto04/07 12:26

The Real Quantum Threat to Bitcoin: 99% of People Get It Wrong

Quantum Computing's Real Threat to Bitcoin: 99% Misunderstand The article clarifies widespread misconceptions about quantum computing's threat to Bitcoin. Key points: - Bitcoin uses digital signatures, not encryption, making "collect now, decrypt later" attacks irrelevant. - Quantum computers cannot crack Bitcoin mining (requires energy exceeding the sun's output) but threaten signatures via Shor's algorithm. - Only ~6.26M BTC (30-35% of supply) are at risk due to exposed public keys (legacy P2PK, reused addresses). Modern unused addresses remain safe. - Media exaggerations (e.g., "9-minute break") misrepresent research; actual quantum attacks require non-existent hardware and are likely decades away. - Bitcoin can upgrade (BIP-360 proposes post-quantum signatures), but the community must accelerate efforts (estimated 7-year timeline). - The real urgency stems from classical cryptographic risks (e.g., mathematical breakthroughs breaking secp256k1), not just quantum threats. - Recommendations: avoid address reuse, monitor BIP-360, migrate to quantum-resistant addresses when available, and ignore sensationalized headlines. Conclusion: The threat is real but distant. Panic is unwarranted, but complacency is dangerous. Proactive engineering is essential.

marsbit04/07 10:32

The Real Quantum Threat to Bitcoin: 99% of People Get It Wrong

marsbit04/07 10:32

DeFi loses $169M in Q1 as Circle pushes for quantum security – Details

DeFi security in Q1 saw $169 million lost across 34 protocols, primarily to operational weaknesses rather than cryptographic failures. Key compromises and permission errors accounted for a majority of attacks, with 63% linked to access control issues. While immediate threats remain execution-based, long-term quantum risks are gaining attention. Circle is proactively adopting Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), and new chains like Arc are building quantum-resistant features natively to avoid future upgrade challenges. Legacy chains, however, face slow adoption due to scalability and coordination hurdles, with significant value still locked in incumbent systems. The market currently prioritizes liquidity and usability, delaying broader PQC transition despite rising future threats.

ambcrypto04/07 03:58

DeFi loses $169M in Q1 as Circle pushes for quantum security – Details

ambcrypto04/07 03:58

Drift Protocol incident uncovered: Did ‘negligence’ lead to the $285M loss?

Drift Protocol's $285 million hack underscores a critical industry lesson: security cannot be sacrificed for scalability. This incident, potentially linked to the same group behind the 2024 Radiant Capital hack, reveals a meticulously planned attack where perpetrators posed as a legitimate firm to gain trust. In response, Drift froze protocol functions and collaborated with law enforcement, though market confidence remained shaken. The timing is significant, as Solana recently tested quantum-resistant upgrades that slowed the network by 90%, highlighting the inherent trade-offs between security and performance. Public scrutiny has intensified, with some labeling the breach "civil negligence," signaling a shift in the 2026 cycle toward prioritizing security, accountability, and quantum-threat preparedness over mere scalability.

ambcrypto04/06 20:17

Drift Protocol incident uncovered: Did ‘negligence’ lead to the $285M loss?

ambcrypto04/06 20:17

Solana’s 90% slowdown: Is quantum-safe security killing SOL’s speed?

Solana's recent quantum security testing with Project Eleven has exposed a critical trade-off: implementing quantum-resistant signatures could slow the network by 90%. This is a significant challenge for Solana, as its core advantage has been its high speed and scalability, processing 31x more transactions than Ethereum with 1,191 TPS. This speed has fueled its growth in DeFi and stablecoin adoption, notably for non-USD currencies. The potential 90% slowdown forces Solana to balance its defining speed with future-proof security, risking its competitive edge if it cannot maintain both performance and protection against quantum computing threats.

ambcrypto04/05 18:02

Solana’s 90% slowdown: Is quantum-safe security killing SOL’s speed?

ambcrypto04/05 18:02

Google’s Documentation Talks About XRP And You Won’t Believe What It Says

Google's recent quantum computing research report discusses the XRP Ledger (XRPL) and its efforts to protect against quantum threats. The report highlights that XRPL is among the networks conducting experimental deployments of post-quantum cryptography, specifically noting its testnet deployment of ML-DSA signatures. It also recognizes XRPL's significant role in Real World Asset (RWA) tokenization, where it currently ranks 8th with $1.9 billion in tokenized value. However, Google points out that the account model and smart contracts used by networks like XRPL introduce new quantum vulnerabilities not present in Bitcoin. While XRPL, alongside Algorand and TRON, has an advantage with native key rotation, the transition to quantum-resistant systems is complex and will take years. Despite challenges, networks including XRPL are making notable progress in adopting post-quantum cryptography.

bitcoinist04/03 21:32

Google’s Documentation Talks About XRP And You Won’t Believe What It Says

bitcoinist04/03 21:32

Advancements in Quantum Technology: An Opportunity for the Encryption Industry

Quantum computing advancements, particularly Google's research, are accelerating the timeline for practical quantum applications, posing a near-term threat to cryptocurrency encryption. Estimates suggest quantum systems with as few as 10,000 to 260,000 qubits could break Bitcoin’s elliptic curve encryption—far fewer than previously thought—potentially exposing vulnerabilities by 2029. Risks include rapid private key extraction during transactions and threats to Ethereum’s DeFi and tokenized assets worth ~$100 billion. While theoretical, these risks are driving market action: quantum-resistant tokens and protocols have surged up to 50%, indicating investors are pricing in defensive infrastructure early. Mainstream crypto prices remain stable, reflecting confidence that upgrades, not collapse, will address the threat. The industry must transition to post-quantum cryptography, leveraging existing solutions like zero-knowledge proofs. Blockchain’s adaptability—through forks and protocol upgrades—offers a structural advantage. Quantum computing challenge is thus a forced opportunity: winners will be those embedding quantum resistance into governance and technology design before threats fully materialize.

marsbit04/03 07:31

Advancements in Quantum Technology: An Opportunity for the Encryption Industry

marsbit04/03 07:31

Bitcoin Is At Major Risk From This Single Factor And It’s Not As Far Away As You Think; Google

Google's Quantum AI team has issued a warning that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are more vulnerable to quantum computing attacks than previously thought. The security of these digital assets relies on elliptic curve cryptography (ECD-256), which was believed to require a quantum computer with millions of qubits to break. However, Google's optimized implementation of Shor’s algorithm suggests that only about 1,200–1,450 logical qubits and fewer than 500,000 physical qubits would be needed to compromise the system in minutes. While the threat is not immediate, Google emphasizes that the risk is closer than many assume and recommends transitioning to post-quantum cryptography (PQC). The company is collaborating with entities like Coinbase, the Stanford Institute for Blockchain Research, and the Ethereum Foundation, targeting a 2029 migration timeline. However, upgrading decentralized networks like Bitcoin will require broad consensus and complex protocol changes, posing significant implementation challenges. The crypto industry is urged to begin preparations to mitigate this emerging quantum risk.

bitcoinist04/03 01:01

Bitcoin Is At Major Risk From This Single Factor And It’s Not As Far Away As You Think; Google

bitcoinist04/03 01:01

Google AI whitepaper: ‘Algorand is the perfect example of post-quantum computing’ – ALGO jumps 24%

Google AI's recent whitepaper on quantum computing vulnerabilities has triggered a significant 24% price surge for Algorand (ALGO), with its daily volume increasing nearly fivefold. The paper, a collaboration between Google Quantum AI, UC Berkeley, and the Ethereum Foundation, highlighted Algorand as a prime example of a blockchain proactively implementing post-quantum cryptography (PQC). It specifically commended Algorand's use of Falcon digital signatures for smart contracts and state proofs, positioning the network well for a future migration to a post-quantum standard. This news catalyzed a strong bullish move, allowing ALGO to break out of its prolonged trading range between $0.08 and $0.10. The rally saw bulls reclaim the $0.082 support level and push toward the range highs. While the surge has cleared a cluster of short liquidations, it now faces a key resistance zone around $0.10-$0.11. Analysts suggest that holding above $0.095 could signal a bullish continuation, while a drop below would indicate a return to the previous range-bound trading.

ambcrypto04/01 13:07

Google AI whitepaper: ‘Algorand is the perfect example of post-quantum computing’ – ALGO jumps 24%

ambcrypto04/01 13:07

Bitcoin Bombshell: Google’s 2029 Quantum Warning Sparks New Fear

Google's updated quantum threat model, moving its post-quantum cryptography migration deadline to 2029, has significant implications for Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. A new whitepaper from Google Quantum AI, alongside researchers including Justin Drake and Dan Boneh, suggests breaking the secp256k1 elliptic curve cryptography (used in Bitcoin) may require far fewer quantum resources than previously believed. The paper estimates Shor’s algorithm could break ECDSA keys in minutes using under 500,000 physical qubits. This has shifted the narrative, with experts now urging immediate transition plans. The paper highlights the risk of "on-spend" attacks against live transactions due to Bitcoin's 10-minute block time, while downplaying quantum risks to proof-of-work mining. Google chose to validate its findings via a zero-knowledge proof instead of full circuit disclosure, citing responsible disclosure concerns. The broader call is for vulnerable cryptocurrency communities to begin migrating to post-quantum cryptography without delay.

bitcoinist03/31 18:31