Quantum Alliance formed to protect 6.4 million vulnerable bitcoin from future quantum threats
Nine companies form the Quantum Alliance
Nine crypto companies launched the Quantum Alliance on Thursday to develop shared security standards for bitcoin, ethereum, and other blockchain networks. A blockchain is a digital ledger that records transactions across many computers.
The group formed in response to warnings that powerful quantum computers could eventually break the cryptography that protects cryptocurrency wallets. Quantum computers use the principles of quantum mechanics to perform calculations far beyond the reach of today's machines.
Right now, no existing quantum computer is powerful enough to do this. But experts agree the threat is real and growing.
6.4 million bitcoin face exposure
The Alliance estimates that 6.4 million bitcoin, roughly 30.2% of bitcoin's total supply, have public keys already visible on the blockchain. These exposed keys could theoretically be reverse-engineered by a future quantum computer to reveal the secret keys needed to access the funds.
About 1.1 million of those coins are attributed to bitcoin's anonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. They have remained untouched since bitcoin's early days.
Experts disagree on timeline
There is no consensus on when quantum computers will become a real threat to bitcoin.
Richard Carback, chief technology officer of Postquant Labs, said he believes 2028 is a realistic date for a machine capable of breaking today's cryptography.
Bryn Bennett, chief revenue officer at The Vault, pushed back. "Nobody knows the date, but the estimates keep falling," Bennett said. "The question for custodians isn't whether the date is 2028 or 2035; it's whether you can migrate in time if it arrives early."
Christopher Smith, CEO of quantum-resistant blockchain Quantus, warned that whoever builds the first cryptographically relevant quantum computer could take the vulnerable bitcoin, possibly with government backing. "Hopefully it's a government that likes bitcoin," he said.
How to protect the coins sparks debate
Moving or freezing the 6.4 million vulnerable bitcoin has sparked intense discussion. Some have proposed placing the coins in a trust or moving them to new quantum-resistant addresses. But others say such moves could undermine property rights and the principle of network neutrality that underpins bitcoin.
Any security upgrade to bitcoin would need broad coordination across the entire ecosystem, including miners, wallet providers, exchanges, and users.
Why this matters
The stakes are high because a large share of all bitcoin exists behind cryptography that could one day be broken. Recent research has already cut the estimated computing power needed to attack bitcoin and ethereum by half, meaning the timeline may be shorter than once thought.
The Quantum Alliance represents an early industry effort to prepare, but significant technical and governance challenges remain before any protection can be put in place.
What is still unclear
It remains unclear when quantum computers will be powerful enough to threaten bitcoin. It is also unclear whether the bitcoin community can reach agreement on how to handle the 6.4 million exposed coins without triggering governance conflicts.
- 9 crypto companies launched the Quantum Alliance to develop quantum-resistant security standards for multiple blockchains
- 6.4 million bitcoin, including 1.1 million linked to Satoshi Nakamoto, have publicly exposed keys vulnerable to future quantum attacks
- No current quantum computer can break bitcoin or ethereum cryptography, but estimates of when one might exist vary widely
- Proposals to move or freeze vulnerable coins have raised concerns about property rights and network neutrality
- Recent research cut the estimated computing power needed for a quantum attack on bitcoin and ethereum by 50%
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.