Alphabet (Google) (NASDAQ:GOOG) has raised a new alarm about the increasing risks posed by quantum computers to the fundamental security of Bitcoin and similar digital currencies. In a recently published detailed update, researchers at the tech company Quantum AI warn that advances in quantum hardware could lead to attacks on the cryptographic security measures that protect most people. cryptocurrencies much sooner than many experts predicted.
To stay ahead of this emerging threat, Google It has committed to a major overhaul of its own systems by 2029 and is adopting quantum-resistant technologies in its infrastructure, including those supporting blockchain networks.
At the core of the concern is elliptic curve cryptography, the mathematical backbone that secures digital signatures and wallet addresses. Bitcoin and the vast majority of blockchain platforms.
This system is based on the difficulty of solving a particular discrete logarithm problem that classical computers find almost impossible to solve.
But, quantum Machines running an improved version of Shor’s algorithm could theoretically break through this protection.
Google’s latest analysis, detailed in the accompanying white paper, reveals that the efficiency of this type of attack has increased significantly.
Optimized quantum circuits would need fewer than 1,200 to 1,450 logical qubits and approximately 70 to 90 million special operations known as Toffoli gates.
In realistic superconducting hardware, this means under 500,000 physical qubits and can be powered up in just a few minutes; This represents a roughly twenty-fold reduction in previously estimated resources.
These findings stem from years of internal research that began in 2016, when Google first began charting a path toward post-quantum cryptography (PQC).
The company has formalized the transition date as 2029 to replace vulnerable authentication methods across its services.
While no one can pinpoint the arrival of large-scale, cryptographically meaningful quantum computers, the updated forecasts underscore that the preparation window is narrowing faster than expected.
Google He emphasizes that all blockchains remain largely resistant to quantum interference in areas such as hashing, but the public key signature scheme remains a critical vulnerability.
Any successful chewing can undermine user trust even if core transaction processes remain intact.
To avoid fueling panic or inadvertently helping malicious actors, the team pioneered a responsible disclosure strategy.
They employ zero knowledge proofs Verifying the reliability of resource estimates without providing a step-by-step plan for use.
This approach is consistent with established cybersecurity norms and encourages similar restrictions across the industry.
Google is also reaching out to key players: coinbaseThe Stanford Blockchain Research Institute and the Ethereum Foundation are working to foster coordinated dialogue between quantum scientists, security experts, and cryptocurrency developers.
The message for blockchain operators and users is clear: proactive steps are essential.
The company advocates an immediate switch to PQC-based signature schemes, which have already been tested in experimental deployments.
Meanwhile, wallet holders should avoid reusing addresses after funds have been spent, thus limiting exposure to “collect now-decrypt later” tactics.
Policymakers may also need to consider frameworks for managing dormant or abandoned cryptocurrencies that could become liabilities.
Like quantum Progress continues at a rapid pace, with Google’s warning serving as a timely call to action.
cryptocurrency The ecosystem built on the promise of decentralization and trust now faces a crucial test.
By adopting this quantum security upgrades Without delay, the industry can secure its future and maintain the trust of millions of participants worldwide. Failure to align risks not only technical compromise but also a broader erosion of the foundations that motivate it. BitcoinThe growth of .
