Vitalik Buterin warns that quantum computing could pose a serious threat to Ethereum and Bitcoin security by 2028, urging the crypto industry to prepare for a post-quantum future.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has sounded the alarm on quantum computing, stating there’s a nontrivial 20% chance that quantum machines could break current cryptographic protections before 2030, possibly as early as 2028. Both Ethereum and Bitcoin rely on ECDSA (Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm), which becomes vulnerable once public keys are exposed on-chain. A sufficiently advanced quantum computer could theoretically reverse-engineer private keys, compromising user funds.

Buterin has proposed a contingency plan that includes freezing externally owned accounts (EOAs), rolling back blocks, and migrating assets to quantum-resistant smart contract wallets. This warning highlights the urgency for blockchain networks to integrate quantum-safe cryptography into their long-term roadmaps.

As quantum tech accelerates, crypto security must evolve. The countdown to post-quantum resilience has already begun.