Blockchain quantum resistance

Whether quantum computers could break the cryptography securing Bitcoin and other blockchains, and how networks plan to migrate before that day.

May 11, 2026

NEAR Protocol Announces Post-Quantum-Safe Signing Testnet for Q2 2026 Amid Growing Quantum Computing Concerns

NEAR Protocol plans to launch a post-quantum-safe signing testnet in Q2 2026 using FIPS-204 standard, allowing users to rotate keys to quantum-resistant alternatives. The announcement comes as Project Eleven warns quantum computing threatens blockchains, banking systems, and digital infrastructure, with concerns that Bitcoin may face challenges in quantum migration.

May 11, 20263 sources

May 7, 2026

Project Eleven Report Warns Quantum Computers Could Break Blockchain Cryptography by 2030-2033

Project Eleven released a report warning that quantum computers capable of breaking blockchain cryptography could arrive as soon as 2030, with a baseline 'Q-Day' scenario projected for 2033. The report provides an analytical framework for measuring quantum progress based on research from Google and other quantum computing leaders.

May 7, 20262 sources

May 5, 2026

Galaxy Digital's Alex Thorn Says Bitcoin Community Reaching Consensus on Quantum Computing Threat Response

In a research note published May 3, 2026, Galaxy Digital Research Director Alex Thorn reported that the Bitcoin community is coalescing around a consensus to leave Satoshi Nakamoto's coins untouched while preparing for quantum computing threats through post-quantum cryptography adoption.

May 5, 20264 sources

Apr 21, 2026

Ripple Publishes Roadmap to Make XRP Ledger Quantum-Resistant by 2028

Ripple released a four-phase plan to prepare the XRP Ledger for post-quantum cryptography by 2028, setting a concrete timeline ahead of Bitcoin and Ethereum for quantum security upgrades.

Apr 21, 20265 sources

Apr 16, 2026

Charles Hoskinson attacks BIP-361, says Bitcoin's governance can't solve the quantum problem

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson releases a video calling BIP-361 a mischaracterized soft fork that would render 1.7 million BTC permanently unrecoverable. He tweets "Have fun stealing Satoshi's coins" directly at supporters of the proposal and argues Bitcoin's lack of on-chain governance makes the quantum problem unsolvable, while positioning Cardano's governance model as the alternative.

Apr 16, 20264 sources

Apr 15, 2026

Bitcoin's quantum freeze proposal splits the industry; three counter-approaches emerge

Within 48 hours of BIP-361, three competing approaches surface. Adam Back argues at Paris Blockchain Week for optional upgrades over forced freezes. BitMEX Research proposes a reactive "canary fund" that only triggers a freeze if a quantum attack is proven on-chain. Justin Sun announces TRON will be the first major chain to deploy NIST post-quantum signatures on mainnet, though no technical documentation follows.

Apr 15, 20265 sources

Polymarket odds of Satoshi moving Bitcoin double to 9.3% following BIP-361 publication

Following BIP-361's publication, Polymarket odds for "Will Satoshi Nakamoto move any Bitcoin in 2026?" climbed to 9.3%, up from 4.5% at the start of the year, drawing over $2.4 million in trading volume. Analysts noted the muted overall response suggests traders still view BIP-361 as a governance discussion rather than an imminent catalyst, but the doubling of odds signals growing market unease around Satoshi's estimated 1.1 million BTC.

Apr 15, 20263 sources

Apr 9, 2026

Bernstein Says Quantum Threat to Bitcoin Is Manageable Upgrade Cycle, Not Existential Crisis

Wall Street broker Bernstein published research arguing that while quantum computing poses a real threat to Bitcoin, it represents a multi-year upgrade cycle rather than an existential crisis, with risks concentrated in older wallets and exposed keys.

Apr 9, 20264 sources

Apr 6, 2026

Circle Announces Quantum-Resistant Roadmap for Arc Blockchain

Circle has unveiled plans to make its Arc layer-1 blockchain quantum-resistant from day one, allowing users to create wallets that can withstand future quantum computer attacks. The move comes amid growing concerns that 'Q-Day' may arrive sooner than anticipated.

Apr 6, 20262 sources

Apr 5, 2026

Algorand Surges 50% After Google Research Flags Quantum Threat to Bitcoin and Ethereum

Algorand jumped 50% after a Google Quantum AI research paper highlighted the blockchain as a live example of post-quantum cryptography implementation, while warning that quantum computers could threaten Bitcoin and Ethereum's current cryptographic security.

Apr 5, 20264 sources

Mar 31, 2026

Google Research Warns Quantum Computers May Break Bitcoin Cryptography Sooner Than Expected

Google researchers published findings showing quantum computers may require 20x fewer qubits than previously estimated to break elliptic curve cryptography used by Bitcoin and Ethereum. The research suggests fault-tolerant quantum machines capable of threatening crypto security could arrive by 2029-2032, accelerating industry urgency around post-quantum upgrades.

Mar 31, 202613 sources

Feb 11, 2026

Bitcoin developers introduce BIP-360, a quantum-safe address format

A group of Bitcoin developers propose BIP-360, introducing a new quantum-resistant transaction type called pay-to-Merkle-root (P2MR). The proposal creates a migration path for new coins but leaves billions in legacy addresses unprotected.

Feb 11, 20263 sources

Feb 9, 2026

CoinShares report argues only 8% of Bitcoin is realistically Quantum-vulnerable, not 34%

CoinShares published research, pushing back on estimates that 20–50% of Bitcoin faces quantum risk, arguing only ~1.6 million BTC in legacy P2PK addresses, roughly 8% of supply, is realistically targetable. The firm said breaking Bitcoin's cryptography would require quantum computers 100,000 times more powerful than today's and narrowed the true market-disruption risk to just ~10,200 BTC concentrated enough to cause meaningful price impact.

Feb 9, 20264 sources

Apr 4, 2025

BIP proposes Quantum-Resistant Address Migration Protocol

Bitcoin developer Agustin Cruz introduced a draft Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP) named the Quantum-Resistant Address Migration Protocol (QRAMP). This proposal aims to protect Bitcoin wallets from potential future threats posed by advancements in quantum computing.

Apr 4, 20253 sources