Bitcoin Magazine examines quantum computing's potential threat to Bitcoin
Quantum computing and the Bitcoin debate
People have debated whether a quantum computer poses a realistic threat to the Bitcoin network for over a decade. In an opinion piece published by Bitcoin Magazine, writer Shinobi argues that two recent improvements in quantum computing make it more likely that a viable quantum computer could be produced in the next decade.
Shinobi cautions that even if such machines are built, they may not become widely available or easily accessible. However, the piece suggests the possibility should not be dismissed.
What has improved
The article highlights two major areas of progress. The first is in error correction. Quantum computers work with information at extremely small scales, where noise and errors are common. To create a reliable "logical qubit" that can perform useful computations, engineers must bundle multiple physical qubits together.
An older approach called surface codes required a grid of physical qubits with some acting as check qubits to monitor neighbors for errors. This method could require nearly 1,000 physical qubits per logical qubit. A newer technique called quantum low-density parity-check (qLDPC) codes allows check qubits to monitor other qubits at greater distances, reducing the physical qubits needed by about 10 times.
What Google's experiments showed
The second area of progress involves a fundamental question: does adding more physical qubits actually reduce noise in the system? According to the article, no quantum computer has yet performed a full computation that a classical computer cannot.
Google conducted experiments using its Sycamore and later Willow chips. The tests did not demonstrate computations but instead showed that information could be stored in memory with lower error rates as more physical qubits were added. Using bundles of 17, 49, and 101 physical qubits, Google showed that the logical error rate decreased as the physical qubit count increased. The logical qubits maintained coherence longer than any individual physical qubit in the bundle.
How AI is involved
The article also notes that artificial intelligence is being applied to several challenges in quantum computing. AI is being used to read and decode information from quantum computers, to develop new quantum algorithms, and to design physical quantum circuits. Shinobi suggests this could accelerate progress on fundamental problems in the field.
What is confirmed versus speculated
The confirmed facts from the article include: error correction techniques have improved; Google demonstrated that certain logical qubits showed reduced error rates as physical qubit counts increased; and AI is being used in quantum computing research.
Unconfirmed claims include whether a fully functional quantum computer will be built within ten years. Shinobi writes that this depends on whether a key assumption holds: that adding more physical qubits reduces noise during active computation. This has not yet been proven experimentally for computation, only for memory storage.
Why this matters
The article does not state definitively that Bitcoin faces an imminent threat. Instead, it argues that significant resources are being devoted to quantum computing and that progress is occurring. Shinobi writes that the possibility of a viable quantum computer in the next decade should not be discounted, but also states it is not time to panic.
Sources
Newisty Editorial Team covers technology, cryptocurrency, digital products, online platforms, developer tools and the wider digital economy. Our content is researched from official sources, company announcements, public documentation, market data and other primary or reputable sources. Articles are reviewed and edited before publication for clarity, accuracy and useful context.