Bitcoin’s quantum threat is real, but far from an existential crisis, Galaxy says
Galaxy Digital's Alex Thorn argues that while quantum computing poses a real long-term threat to Bitcoin, it's not an immediate crisis and developers are actively working on solutions.Summary
According to Alex Thorn, head of research at Galaxy Digital, the fear that quantum computing will imminently break Bitcoin’s cryptography is overstated. While a sufficiently advanced quantum computer could theoretically compromise Bitcoin by deriving private keys from public keys, the risk is recognized and developers are actively addressing it. Approximately 7 million BTC, worth around $470 billion, could be vulnerable under specific exposure conditions, but most Bitcoin is not currently at immediate risk. Efforts to make Bitcoin “quantum-resistant” are underway, including introducing new address types with post-quantum cryptography and exploring phased upgrade paths. Thorn emphasizes that Bitcoin’s open development model and the limited number of actors capable of triggering a cryptographic break provide time and incentive to find solutions, making the quantum threat manageable rather than existential. Investors should monitor the risk but not avoid Bitcoin exposure based on it.
(Source：CoinDesk)