Google researchers have warned that future quantum computers could threaten the security systems protecting Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies, urging the crypto industry to begin preparations. The warning centers on the encryption that protects crypto wallets and transactions, which Google says may be breakable with considerably less computing power than previously estimated.
Who Issued the Warning
In a blog post and an accompanying white paper released this week, Google’s research team said the computing power necessary to break the encryption protecting crypto wallets and transactions might be considerably lower than previously estimated. Google clarified that while no such machine currently exists, the threat from future quantum computers is real.
The new white paper says future quantum computers could potentially compromise elliptic curve cryptography, which secures cryptocurrency and other systems, using fewer qubits and gates than previously understood. Google says elliptic-curve cryptography, or ECC, is the mathematical foundation for securing most crypto transactions.
What It Means for Crypto
Google’s latest research suggests that a future quantum computer could crack a key component of this system, known as ECDLP-256, with approximately 20 times less hardware than earlier projections. Google advises crypto holders not to panic and says Bitcoin and Ethereum are not immediately vulnerable.
The paper says the warning is meant to give the industry time to respond, but researchers noted that the window for action is "increasingly narrow" and that the rapid pace of technological progress requires faster action from developers, exchanges, and wallet providers. Google urges vulnerable cryptocurrency communities to "join the migration to PQC without delay."
PQC, or post-quantum cryptography, is described as a newer form of security designed to withstand the capabilities of quantum machines. Google recommends the transition of blockchains to post-quantum cryptography before the threat becomes real.
The Institutional Response
Google says it has been at the forefront of the responsible transition to post-quantum cryptography since 2016. The company says it wants to raise awareness and has provided recommendations to the cryptocurrency community to enhance security and stability.
Google also said the US government has been informed of the research. It said it engaged with the U.S. government to responsibly share the findings and developed a new method to describe the vulnerabilities via a zero-knowledge proof, allowing verification without providing a roadmap for malicious actors.
Google encourages other research teams to adopt similar practices and says it plans to continue its work across the industry, adhering to its 2029 timeline, alongside organizations like Coinbase, the Stanford Institute for Blockchain Research, and the Ethereum Foundation.
The warning places the future of crypto security inside a wider technological transition driven by large institutions, with Google positioning itself as a central actor in the move toward post-quantum cryptography.