Coinbase moves to shore up crypto defenses as quantum computing looms Coinbase has launched a dedicated advisory board to help the crypto industry prepare for the security challenges posed by quantum computing. The newly formed Coinbase Independent Advisory Board on Quantum Computing and Blockchain brings together external academics and industry experts — including researchers from Stanford, Harvard and the University of California, alongside participants from the Ethereum Foundation, DeFi platform EigenLayer, and Coinbase’s own team. Why it matters - Today’s blockchain wallets and private keys rely on cryptographic problems that would take classical computers thousands of years to break. Coinbase CISO Jeff Lunglhofer warns that quantum computers, with computing power proponents say could be orders of magnitude greater (he cited figures as high as a million times more powerful), could dramatically shorten that timeline. - That said, Lunglhofer emphasized the threat is not immediate: the company does not expect quantum attacks to be a pressing risk for at least about a decade. The advisory board exists to plan and coordinate defenses well in advance. What the board will do - The advisory group will review how quantum computing could affect blockchain security, advise on mitigation strategies, and publish research and position papers to guide the industry. - Their first research paper — focused on quantum’s potential impact on blockchain consensus and transaction layers — is slated for release in the next couple of months. Potential defenses under discussion - Experts are already exploring practical upgrades to make networks more resistant to quantum attacks, including using larger cryptographic keys and adding “noise” to hide key locations and obscure addresses. - Implementing such upgrades across decentralized networks will be complex and could take several years, which is why early coordination and standards work is crucial. Bottom line Coinbase’s new advisory board signals a growing recognition inside crypto that quantum computing is a future but manageable risk — one that requires long lead times for research, coordination, and protocol upgrades. The board’s forthcoming papers should provide early guidance for developers, exchanges, and protocols planning their migration paths. Market note At the time of writing, Coinbase (Nasdaq: COIN) was trading at $225.10, down about 1.2% over the past 24 hours. Featured image: OpenArt. Chart: TradingView.com. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

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