Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin’s Core as Experts Sound the Alarm

• Quantum computing and AI could silently break blockchain security and compromise older Bitcoin wallets.

• Hackers are collecting encrypted data to decrypt it later when quantum hardware improves.

• The crypto industry is developing quantum-resistant solutions, but adoption is still limited and slow.

A rising concern is gripping the crypto security world: quantum computing. David Carvalho, CEO of post-quantum infrastructure firm Naoris Protocol, warns that many in the blockchain space are underestimating a threat that could undermine the cryptographic foundations of Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Carvalho, a former hacker turned cybersecurity expert, believes blockchain security is on borrowed time. “Quantum is coming for it all, like meteors came for the dinosaurs,” he said.

Quantum Harvesting and Post-Crypto Risk

Current quantum computers can’t yet break Bitcoin’s SHA-256 hash or Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA), but state actors and cybercriminals are preparing with a “harvest now, decrypt later” model. Encrypted blockchain data is being collected in anticipation of future decryption capabilities. Agencies like the NSA and NIST have already advised migrating to quantum-resistant standards by 2035.

According to Carvalho, the urgency is being overlooked. Up to 25% of Bitcoin is still held in legacy address formats, which makes it more vulnerable to quantum attack. Projects such as BIP-360 propose mitigation through quantum-resistant addresses, and firms like Naoris are building new infrastructure using post-quantum cryptography. But broad adoption remains limited.

The real concern isn’t just brute-force decryption. Carvalho highlights the growing danger of AI-augmented quantum attacks. Combined, these technologies could exploit cryptographic weaknesses quietly, without immediate detection. AI systems can identify obscure wallet bugs and simulate network responses in real-time.

Such threats won’t announce themselves. “You won’t get a warning that a 10-year-old Bitcoin wallet has been cracked. You’ll see funds moved, and no one can prove how or by whom,” Carvalho noted. This scenario, termed a “silent collapse,” could destroy trust in blockchain systems before the industry reacts.

Centralized Infrastructure Remains a Risk

Despite Bitcoin’s decentralized protocol, much of its infrastructure is still centralized. Mining pools, validator networks, and cloud service providers present single points of failure. If quantum-capable adversaries breach these, the ripple effect could be severe.

“Decentralization is great on paper, but if everyone’s routing through the same few backbones or trusting a handful of third-party APIs, the game’s already lost,” Carvalho warned.

The race is on to build quantum-resilient systems. Whether through rollups, zero-knowledge STARKs, or cryptographic upgrades, the crypto industry must accelerate its defenses. The threat is no longer theoretical, and the countdown may have already begun.