Can Google’s 13,000× “quantum echoes” put Bitcoin’s keys on a clock?

Google's Willow quantum processor achieved a major milestone by completing a complex calculation in hours that would take classical supercomputers 150 years, demonstrating verifiable quantum advantage using the Out-of-Time-Order Correlator (OTOC) algorithm.

This breakthrough has reignited fears about quantum computers breaking Bitcoin's elliptic curve cryptography using Shor's algorithm, especially for the estimated 25% of BTC whose public keys are already exposed. While current quantum machines are far too small (105 qubits) to pose an immediate threat, institutions like BlackRock have flagged quantum risk.

However, most experts caution against panic, noting that millions of stable, error-corrected qubits are needed for a practical threat, which may be a decade or more away. Developers are already working on post-quantum cryptography standards, and Bitcoin developers are exploring migration paths, suggesting the challenge is manageable through responsible transition.

(Source：CryptoSlate)