Haciyev Reşit 
The threat of quantum computing has resurfaced in the Bitcoin ecosystem. Bitcoin developer Hunter Beast warned that the industry is not yet prepared for the risk that state-backed institutions could one day break cryptocurrency infrastructure using ultra-powerful quantum computers. Speaking at the ETHDenver conference, Beast emphasized that quantum technology must be taken seriously for Bitcoin’s long-term security and called on the developer community to act quickly.
“We Are Not Prepared”: Quantum Risk Is Growing for Bitcoin
During a panel at ETHDenver, Hunter Beast stated that the potential risks posed by quantum computers are more complex than many assume. According to him, the Bitcoin ecosystem is not sufficiently prepared for the possible impact of quantum technology.
Beast said:
“Right now, we are not ready for everything this could affect. We are facing an extremely broad and multi-dimensional problem.”
Other panel participants included Bitcoin Rails podcast host Isabel Foxen Duke and Project 11 CEO Alex Pruden, who specializes in blockchain security.
Google’s Quantum Chip Raised Concerns
Discussions around the quantum threat accelerated after Google introduced its “Willow” quantum chip in December 2024. According to Alex Pruden, while this chip does not have the capacity to directly break Bitcoin, it represents a critical milestone demonstrating that the technology is entering a scalable development path.
Additionally, a new academic study published in Sydney, Australia, suggested that certain encryption systems could potentially be broken even with lower-capacity quantum computers. These findings have intensified debates that Bitcoin wallets could eventually face risk as well.
Pruden commented:
“The threshold required to break encryption is decreasing, while technological progress is accelerating. At some point, those two lines will intersect.”
According to Hunter Beast, the quantum race involves not only technology companies but also state-backed intelligence agencies. He argued that quantum computers—whose development can cost billions of dollars—are strategically valuable primarily for breaking encrypted data between nations. Quantum machines could potentially crack not only Bitcoin’s cryptography but also widely used global encryption standards such as RSA. This raises concerns that countries with advanced quantum infrastructure could gain access to other nations’ encrypted data.
Disagreement Among Bitcoin Developers
Although there is general agreement that Bitcoin may eventually need to transition to quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms, there is no full consensus within the developer community about the urgency of the threat. Some argue that a quantum computer powerful enough to threaten Bitcoin is still decades away.
Bitcoin Core developer Luke Dashjr previously stated:
“Quantum is not a real threat. Bitcoin has bigger problems to solve.”
However, Hunter Beast considers this view risky, warning that the speed of technological advancement should not be underestimated.
“Bitcoin Cannot Rely on Assumptions”
Beast stressed that Bitcoin’s future should not depend on the assumption that technological progress will slow down. While quantum computing may not present an immediate practical threat today, he believes it has already become an issue that requires strategic planning. Experts agree that there is currently no quantum computer capable of directly breaking Bitcoin. Nevertheless, academic research and state-backed development programs suggest that the risk is evolving from a purely theoretical concern into a significant part of long-term security planning.
Warnings from Bitcoin developers highlight what could become one of the most significant technological risks facing crypto infrastructure in the future. Even without an immediate danger, the advancement of quantum computing is viewed as a major long-term security consideration for Bitcoin and other blockchain networks. Early preparation in this area may be critical to ensuring Bitcoin’s resilience in the decades ahead.
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