🚨 THE QUANTUM THREAT TO CRYPTO MAY ALREADY BE HERE
🧠 The core argument is that the quantum threat doesn’t start when a powerful quantum computer fully arrives, but the moment attackers begin collecting encrypted data today to decrypt it later.
⚠️ Experts warn that millions of Bitcoin sitting in addresses with exposed public keys could become instantly vulnerable once quantum-capable machines reach sufficient power.
📊 Estimates suggest roughly 4 million BTC — about 25% of usable supply — could theoretically be at risk under a future quantum attack scenario.
🔍 The biggest danger is not gradual damage but a sudden, asymmetric shock where vulnerable wallets could be drained almost instantly using quantum algorithms.
🛠️ Upgrading blockchains to post-quantum cryptography is not a simple patch, as it could require major protocol changes, downtime, and coordination across exchanges, custodians, and financial infrastructure.
🌐 Importantly, the risk extends beyond crypto, since global banking, payments, and identity systems rely on the same cryptographic standards that quantum computing could eventually break.
📉 The broader implication is that markets may not be fully pricing in a “harvest now, decrypt later” threat, where data stolen today becomes exploitable in the future quantum era.