Yigit Taha OZTURK 
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino has claimed that quantum computers could eventually hack lost Bitcoin wallets, bringing those assets back into circulation. However, he emphasized that this is not something that will happen in the near future.
In a statement on February 8, Ardoino said, “Any lost Bitcoin, including Satoshi Nakamoto’s (if not alive), will be hacked and put back into circulation.”
Are Quantum Computers a Threat to Bitcoin?
Quantum computers are next-generation systems capable of solving complex problems and processing multiple possibilities simultaneously, something traditional computers cannot do. However, according to Ardoino, Bitcoin‘s cryptographic security is not currently at risk from these systems.
That said, lost or inactive Bitcoin wallets could become more vulnerable as quantum computing advances, as their owners are unable to move funds to more secure addresses. On the other hand, active wallets are more likely to adopt quantum-resistant security measures as they become available.
Paolo Ardoino emphasized that in the future, all crypto holders will need to move their assets to “quantum-resistant addresses.”
Is Bitcoin’s Future at Risk?
Pseudonymous crypto trader Crypto Skull warned that if Satoshi Nakamoto’s old Bitcoin wallets were brought back into circulation, “it could theoretically send Bitcoin back to the Stone Age.”
Some experts argue that Satoshi Nakamoto’s estimated 1 million BTC should be frozen to prevent potential misuse.
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Billionaire investor and Bitcoin advocate Chamath Palihapitiya stated in December that “Quantum computing will pose a risk to v1 cryptographic systems. However, the timeline is uncertain, and it’s not an immediate concern.”
Nonetheless, he advised that large Bitcoin holders should “assume it could happen and plan accordingly.”
Are Bitcoin Wallets Safe?
A Quantum Grad report published in 2023 states that Grover’s search algorithm is considered the most effective method for retrieving a Bitcoin private key. However, the study suggests that millions of qubits would be needed to build a quantum computer capable of successfully executing Grover’s algorithm.
For now, quantum computers are not an immediate threat to Bitcoin‘s security, but in the future, crypto holders may need to transfer their assets to more secure addresses.
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