Quantum threat to Bitcoin could materialize before commercial viability, EU regulators warn
Summary
European financial authorities warned that quantum computers could eventually break cryptography used by blockchains, potentially before the technology has a viable commercial use. Around 6.9 million bitcoin, valued at about $586 billion, may be vulnerable, particularly coins in legacy or reused addresses with exposed public keys. No machine capable of breaking Bitcoin’s cryptography exists today, but upgrading the network would require broad consensus and exposed coins would need to be moved. The authorities also cited “harvest now, decrypt later” risks. The EU roadmap urges member states to begin post-quantum transitions by the end of 2026, with high-risk systems protected by 2030.
