Bitcoin quantum threat is real and closer than it looks, says Nobel physicist

Finance Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Bitcoin quantum threat is real and closer than it looks, says Nobel physicist Former Google quantum hardware leader and winner of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics, Dr. John Martinis, warns that breaking encryption will be among the earliest uses of quantum computing By Olivier Acuna | Edited by Stephen Alpher Apr 7, 2026, 12:44 p.m. Make preferred on Research-backed warning highlights encryption as one of the first practical applications for powerful quantum machines. (Planet Volumes-Unsplash/Modified by CoinDesk) What to know : John M. Martinis, a Nobel Prize–winning physicist who helped build Google’s quantum computers, warns that Bitcoin could be among the earliest real-world targets of quantum attacks. A recent Google paper he endorses shows how a sufficiently advanced quantum computer could derive a bitcoin private key from its public key in minutes, exploiting the brief window when a transaction’s public key is exposed. While Martinis believes building such powerful quantum machines may take five to ten years and remains a major engineering challenge, he says the bitcoin community must start planning now for quantum-resistant upgrades despite the network’s slow, decentralized governance. A Nobel Prize–winning physicist who helped build Google’s quantum computers warned that Bitcoin BTC $ 68,399.76 may be among the earliest real-world targets of the technology. In an interview with CoinDesk, Dr. John M. Martinis said recent Google research showing how a quantum computer could break bitcoin encryption in minutes should be taken seriously. “I think it’s a very well-written paper. It lays out where we are right now,” Martinis said, referring to Google’s latest work on quantum threats to cryptography. “It’s not something that has zero probability; people have to deal with this.” READ: A simple explainer on what quantum computing actually is, and why it is terrifying for bitcoin The Google paper outlines how a sufficiently advanced quantum computer could derive a bitcoin private key from its public key, potentially within minutes, dramatically reducing the computational barrier that currently secures the network, Martinis highlighted, adding this is one of the issues that must be taken most seriously.. READ: Here's what 'cracking' bitcoin in 9 minutes by quantum computers actually means While the idea of quantum computers breaking encryption is often framed as distant or theoretical, Martinis said one of the first practical applications may be far more immediate. Lowest hanging fruit for quantum computers “It turns out that breaking cryptography is one of the easier applications for quantum computing, because it’s very numeric,” he said. “These are the smaller, easier algorithms. The low-hanging fruit.” That places bitcoin, which relies on elliptic curve cryptography, directly in the line of fire, Martinis suggested, confirming what the Google paper warns. Unlike traditional financial systems, which can migrate to quantum-resistant encryption standards, bitcoin faces a more complex challenge. Its decentralized structure and historical design make upgrades slower and more contentious, the Nobel Prize winner said. “You can go to quantum-resistant codes” in banking and other systems, Martinis said. “Bitcoin is a little bit different, which is why people should be thinking about this right now.” The concern centers on a specific vulnerability window. When a bitcoin transaction is broadcast, its public key becomes visible before it is confirmed onchain, Martinis explained. A powerful quantum computer could, in theory, use that window to derive the corresponding private key and redirect funds before final settlement, he noted. However, Martinis cautioned against assuming the threat is imminent. Building a quantum computer capable of executing such an attack remains one of the hardest engineering challenges in modern science. “I think it’s going to be harder to build a quantum computer than people are thinking,” he said, pointing to major hurdles in scaling, reliability and error correction. No reason for inaction Estimates for when cryptographically relevant quantum machines could emerge vary widely. Martinis suggested a rough five- to ten-year window, but warned that uncertainty is not a reason for inaction. “Given the serious consequences, you deal with it. You have time, but you have to work on it,” he said. The warning highlights a growing shift inside the quantum research community, where scientists are increasingly flagging risks to existing cryptographic systems while withholding sensitive technical details — a strategy borrowed from traditional cybersecurity disclosure practices. For bitcoin developers and investors alike, the message is becoming harder to ignore. “The crypto community has to plan for this,” Martinis said. “It’s a serious issue that has to be dealt with.” Martinis is a 2025 Nobel Prize–winning physicist recognized for his work on macroscopic quantum phenomena and is widely known for leading Google’s quantum hardware program, including the 2019 “quantum supremacy” experiment. He is currently CTO and co-founder of Qolab, a hardware company developing utility-scale superconducting quantum computers. Bitcoin News More For You Encryption Supremacy: Zcash and Privacy in the Age of Scale By CoinDesk Research Mar 31, 2026 Commissioned by GenZcash Most crypto privacy models weaken as blockchain data grows. Encryption-based models like Zcash strengthen. CoinDesk Research maps the five privacy approaches and examines the widening gap. Why it matters : As blockchain adoption scales, the metadata available to machine learning models scales with it. Obfuscation-based privacy approaches are structurally degrading as a result. This report provides a comprehensive comparison of all five major crypto privacy architectures and a framework for evaluating which models remain durable as AI capabilities improve. View Full Report More For You Ant Group’s blockchain arm unveils platform for AI agents to transact on crypto rails By Francisco Rodrigues , AI Boost | Edited by Jamie Crawley Apr 5, 2026 Anvita includes tokenization services and a platform for agents to coordinate tasks and settle payments in real time using stablecoins. What to know : Ant Digital Technologies has launched Anvita, a platform enabling AI agents to hold assets, trade, and make payments with minimal human involvement. Anvita includes tokenization services and a platform for agents to coordinate tasks and settle payments in real time using stablecoins. The launch reflects growing industry interest in AI-driven... Read full story Latest Crypto News How North Korea's 6-month long secret espionage program has crypto community rethinking security 20 minutes ago Why Michael Saylor's bitcoin buys aren’t moving the needle anymore 1 hour ago Bitcoin briefly touches $70,000 as ETF inflows signal institutional interest 1 hour ago Bitcoin price-drop speculation spurred by familiar price pattern 1 hour ago Solana Foundation unveils security overhaul days after $270 million Drift exploit 1 hour ago Bitcoin pulls away from software stocks as Iran war, AI reshape market dynamic 2 hours ago Top Stories SEC close to putting out 'reg crypto' for fundraising questions, Chair Atkins says 8 hours ago Bitcoin ETF inflows hit highest level since February 6 hours ago Appeals court blocks New Jersey from shutting down Kalshi's sports markets 20 hours ago Bitcoin miners face a new rival for cheap power as Anthropic signs multi-gigawatt compute deal 7 hours ago In this article BTC BTC $ 68,399.76 ◢ 1.38 %