Google alert: fewer than 500,000 qubits would be enough to break Bitcoin and Ethereum in 9 to 12 minutes, threatening transaction security. The transition to quantum-resistant solutions is becoming urgent.
Google recently published a study revealing that quantum computers could compromise the cryptography of Bitcoin and Ethereum much faster than previously expected. According to researchers, fewer than 500,000 physical qubits would be sufficient to break the security of blockchains using elliptic curves, which is 20 times less than earlier estimates.
Simulations conducted by Google show that two quantum algorithms could extract a Bitcoin private key in just 9 to 12 minutes, a timeframe comparable to the average block confirmation time. This would allow an attacker to intercept a public key during a transaction and calculate the private key quickly enough to steal funds before the transfer is validated.
In response to this threat, Google recommends that the crypto community accelerate the transition toward quantum-resistant solutions. These findings, relayed by international media, highlight the urgency of adopting new security standards.