Last updated on May 12th, 2026 at 03:04 pm
Google’s Quantum AI team has issued a warning to the digital asset industry, revealing that advancements in quantum computing could soon compromise the cryptographic foundations of most blockchains. Recent research indicates that a sufficiently powerful quantum machine could derive a Bitcoin private key from its public key in approximately nine minutes.
This timeframe is particularly alarming as it falls just under Bitcoin’s average block time of ten minutes. Such a capability would allow attackers to intercept transactions in the mempool and redirect funds before they are even confirmed on the ledger.
The threat of quantum computing to blockchain technology, including prominent blockchains such as Bitcoin, is a pressing concern. Quantum computing has the potential to destroy the cryptography on which blockchain technology is based, particularly with regard to digital signatures and hashing, which are fundamental to data immutability. This, in turn, has created a pressing need to develop and utilize post-quantum cryptography, and the text argues in favor of defensive strategies to achieve blockchain security.
Industry urged to migrate by 2029
The threat centres on the ECDLP-256 protocol, a standard encryption method used by Bitcoin, Ethereum, and many other networks to secure user wallets. Google’s latest findings have increased the estimated efficiency of quantum resources needed to break these digital signatures by roughly 20 times.
To counter this looming “quantum doomsday,” Google is following the steps of major industry players like The Ethereum Foundation to accelerate a transition to post-quantum cryptography (PQC). The tech giant has set a 2029 target for the industry to adopt these quantum-resistant standards.
The double threat: quantum computing and AI-powered cybercrime
The looming quantum threat and the necessity of Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) migration are not the only concerns; cybercriminals are also using AI to deploy shape-shifting malware. This requires constant security updates to safeguard vulnerable wallets and transactions.
Similarly, the shift toward PQC represents the next stage of staying alert and acting quickly to minimize systemic risks. Currently, an estimated $718 billion worth of Bitcoin remains in older address formats that expose public keys, making them the primary targets for early quantum attacks.
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